[Spontaneous neonatal arterial thrombosis: a report of 4 neonates]

Abstract

Arterial thromboses are rare in newborns, mostly caused by arterial catheters. Neonatal arterial thrombosis occurring in other contexts is much rare. We report arterial thrombosis, not caused by catheterisation in 4 neonates hospitalised in the neonatology department of the Farhat Hached de Sousse hospital in Tunisia. The diagnosis of arterial thrombosis was made based on signs of ischemia in 2 patients affected by thrombosis of the iliac arteries. The symptoms were less clear: anuria associated with arterial high blood pressure in 1 patient affected by thrombosis of the abdominal aorta and by anuria with melena in a newborn with aortic and mesenteric thrombosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by Doppler sonography in 3 patients and based on autopsy data in 1 patient. A delay to consultation was noted in 3 patients, whose outcome was fatal. The progression was favourable after thrombolysis and anticoagulation using heparin in 1 patient with major aortic thrombosis. A review of the literature on the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and outcome data of the arterial thrombosis in the newborn child is provided.