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The Relationship Between Hematocrit and Bleeding Time in Very Low Birth Weight Infants During the First Week of Life

Journal of Perinatology volume 21, pages 368–371 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The bleeding time is a measurement of platelet and capillary interaction following a small standardized cutaneous incision. In adults, anemia causes a prolongation of the bleeding time, and we hypothesized that the same would be true in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants during their first week of life.

STUDY DESIGN: Template bleeding times, using the Surgicutt Newborn device, were performed on 20 VLBW weight infants ≤7 days old, before, and again following a clinically ordered erythrocyte transfusion.

RESULTS: Neonates who had pretransfusion hematocrits ≤0.28 l/l had longer bleeding times, which fell 164±25 seconds (mean±SD; p<0.0001) following transfusion. Patients with pretransfusion hematocrits >0.28 l/l had no significant reduction in bleeding time following transfusion.

CONCLUSIONS: In VLBW infants, during their first week of life (the time when their risk of intraventricular hemorrhage is greatest), a low hematocrit is associated with a significant prolongation in the bleeding time.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Pamela Connolly, RN, Ann Cothran, RN, and Jessica Wong, of the Clinical Research Center for their assistance in these studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, and the General Clinical Research Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL

    Martha C Sola MD, Antonio del Vecchio MD, Tamara J Edwards NNP, Alan D Hutson PhD & Robert D Christensen MD

  2. Children's Medical Group, San Diego Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA

    Denise Suttner MD

Authors
  1. Martha C Sola MD
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  2. Antonio del Vecchio MD
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  3. Tamara J Edwards NNP
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  4. Denise Suttner MD
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  5. Alan D Hutson PhD
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  6. Robert D Christensen MD
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Additional information

This study was supported by grants HL44951, HL61798, and RR00083 from the National Institutes of Health, by a grant from the Children's Miracle Network Telethon, and by a fellowship training grant from the American Heart Association.

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Sola, M., del Vecchio, A., Edwards, T. et al. The Relationship Between Hematocrit and Bleeding Time in Very Low Birth Weight Infants During the First Week of Life. J Perinatol 21, 368–371 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210546

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