Normal coagulation findings, thrombocytopenia, and peripheral hemoconcentration in neonatal polycythemia

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 101; no. 1; pp. 99 - 102
• Main Authors: Katz, Jacob, Rodriguez, Eva, Mandani, Ghodse, Branson, Herman E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.07.1982
• Subjects: Blood Circulation; Blood Coagulation; Blood Viscosity; Capillaries; Fetal Blood - analysis; Hematocrit; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases - blood; Infant, Newborn, Diseases - therapy; Plasma Exchange; Platelet Count; Polycythemia - blood; Polycythemia - therapy; Thrombocytopenia - blood; Thrombocytopenia - therapy; Veins
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3476(82)80195-9

The criteria used for partial plasma exchange transfusion in 32 of 42 polycythemic newborn infants with capillary hematocrits ≥70% were a venous hematocrit greater than 65% and two or more clinical “symptoms”, or a venous hematocrit ≥70%. Coagulation tests performed on 20 infants before and after the partial plasma exchange transfusion were normal for age. Low platelet counts found in six of the 32 patients were associated with venous hematocrits of ≥70%. In three patients the platelet counts (<100,000/μl) increased to ≥130,000/μl after three days. In 20 of the 32 infants in whom partial plasma exchange transfusions were performed, peripheral venous hematocrits prior to the exchange were 8.5% higher than umbilical venous hematocrits. Following treatment the venous hematocrits (umbilical and peripheral) did not show a statistically significant difference. Thus, the study revealed coagulation findings normal for age, thrombocytopenia in 20% of polycythemic infants, hemoconcentration, and a sluggish peripheral venous circulation.