The frequency of deranged coagulation profile in newborns with birth asphyxia.

Abstract

Background: Birth asphyxia, a burdening pathology, is responsible for a great number of neonatal deaths. Besides targeting vital organs of the body, the associated systemic oxygen deprivation is responsible for the hemodynamic rearrangement and, consequently, the development of various coagulopathies. The present study is aimed to assess the alteration in the coagulation profile of babies born with birth asphyxia.

Methodology: A six-month cross-sectional research on newborns (with a gestational age of 30 to 42 weeks and birth asphyxia) was conducted in a hospital setting. A total of 96 newborns meeting the inclusion criteria were considered for the study. The blood samples were collected for the determination of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and international normalized ratio (INR).

Results: The studied cohort comprised 54 (54.2%) females, and the mean age of the newborns was 12.53 ± 3.58 hours. The mean PT and APTT in the asphyxic newborns were 22.58 ± 10.22 and 37.67 ±10.25 seconds, respectively, while the INR was 2.12 ± 0.96. The deranged PT and APTT were observed in 60 (62.5%) and 32 (33.3%) newborns. The deranged INR was observed in 21 (21.9%). Further, the maternal use of antiepileptics and anticoagulant drugs was not traced in any studied subjects.

Conclusion: A significant number of newborns with birth asphyxia presented with a deranged coagulation profile. However, the maximum frequency for derangement was obtained for the PT, followed by the APTT.