Open AccessHeparinase-Modified Thrombelastography in Term and Preterm Neonates
Author(s) -
Stephan C. Kettner,
Arnold Pollak,
Michael Zimpfer,
Tanja Seybold,
Andrea Prusa,
Kurt Herkner,
Stefan Kuhle
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/01.ane.0000115149.25496.dd
Subject(s) - medicine , thromboelastography , thrombelastography , coagulation , coagulation testing , fibrinolysis , prothrombin time , fibrinogen , platelet , hyperfibrinolysis , gestational age , hematocrit , anesthesia , gastroenterology , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Thrombelastography (TEG) appears to be a promising test to assess coagulation in infants and children. TEG enables a rapid assessment of hemostatic function with only 300 microL of whole blood and provides information about plasmatic coagulation, platelet function, and fibrinolysis. In this study, we used TEG to assess the coagulation system of preterm and term neonates to determine the effects of their deficient coagulation factor levels on global hemostatic function. Heparinase-modified TEG, platelet and red blood cell count, plasma fibrinogen, and prothrombin time were assessed in four groups of clinically stable infants: severely preterm (gestational age [GA], 27-31 wk), moderately preterm (GA, 32-36 wk), term (GA, 36-40 wk), and former preterm (corrected GA, 34-40 wk). Healthy adult volunteers served as a control group. When compared with the adult group, thromboelastography revealed no defects in coagulation from groups of clinically stable infants, documenting the functional integrity of coagulation despite, in part, decreased conventional coagulation variables. Because clinically stable preterm and term infants show a relatively small incidence of bleeding, despite prolonged conventional coagulation tests, TEG may better reflect the hemostatic potential of these patients compared with conventional coagulation tests.