[Coagulation studies from capillary blood in newborn infants]

Abstract

Coagulation studies from capillary blood, consisting of the determination of fibrinogen, factors II and V and proactivator-plasminogen, were done in 104 newborns. In healthy newborns fibrinogen and factor V was found near the adult level, while factor II and proactivator-plasminogen showed a severe deficit. None of the coagulation factors was dependent of gestational age. Fibrinogen was significantly lower in the group of children with perinatal asphyxia. In ill newborns there was a significant correlation between fibrinogen and factor II and fibrinogen and factor V as was between factors II and V. No correlation could be demonstrated between proactivator-plasminogen and any of the other coagulation factors.