Study of coagulopathy in preterms

BACKGROUND: A lack of evidence surrounding the assessment of coagulation abnormalities in neonates points to an urgent need to have a consensus on normal values based on gestation and postnatal age, so that we can have a consistent practice in treating abnormal clotting profiles. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to study the incidence of bleeding associated with and without coagulopathy in high-risk preterms using NeoBAT score and prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin clotting time values with a prospective observational study. The secondary objective of this study was to study the incidence of asymptomatic coagulopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted in a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. All high-risk preterms less than 34 weeks were included in the study. The outcome was to study the incidence of bleeding associated with and without coagulopathy. RESULTS: The incidence of coagulopathy was 69.8%, whereas that of clinical bleeding manifestation was 6.7%. Of these, 6% was associated with coagulopathy and 0.7% was not associated with coagulopathy. Approximately 63.6% had asymptomatic coagulopathy. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic coagulopathy is a common occurrence in preterms. Most of the coagulopathy may resolve on its own. Fresh frozen plasma administration alone is not protective against clinical bleeding.