Abstract 135

Background: This study was designed to examine the postnatal status of the coagulation factors in the premature infants born at < 30 gestational weeks. No reference data are available for that gestational age(GA). Subjects: Thirty-two premature infants(24 to 29 weeks of gestational age), 17 boys and 15 girls born at Kuopio University Hospital entered the study. Median GA was 27 weeks; median birth weight was 927 gr. There were 9 (28%) small for gestational age (SGA) newborns. None had intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) in the first cranial ultrasound at the age of 0-1 days. Subsequently, 11 babies had ICH and/or periventricular leucomalacia. Three (9%) infants died. Routine vitamin K prophylaxis 1 mg i.m. was given to all babies Measurements: Less than 2 hours after the birth 1.8 ml blood sample was taken for the analysis of the coagulation factors II, V, VII and X.

Results: Coagulation data [mean(SD)] is given separately for babies with ICH/PVL (Group 1) and for those without ICH/PVL (Group 2). * = significant (p<0.05) diff. between Gr 1 and Gr 2.Table

Table 1
Full size table

Conclusions: Low vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors were associated with ICH/PVL in ELBW infants. Prophylactic administration of fresh frozen plasma or repeated doses of vitamin K deserves further study.