Hemostasis in newborns of smoking and nonsmoking mothers.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the effect of smoking during pregnancy on neonatal hemostasis.


METHODS
Venous blood samples of 26 newborns of smoking and 25 newborns of nonsmoking mothers were obtained from the clamped umbilical cord immediately after birth. Prothrombin fragment 1+2, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, plasmin-alpha2-antiplasmin complex, and D-dimer levels were determined to assess activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Cotinine was measured in all neonates to objectify cigarette smoke exposure. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the values of the parameters of coagulation and fibrinolysis in the two groups at the p < 0.05 level.


RESULTS
The median values of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin-antithrombin III complex in newborns exposed to tobacco smoke in utero did not differ from values of newborns who were not exposed. Nor were the markers of fibrinolysis, plasmin-alpha2-antiplasmin complex and D-dimer levels, influenced by tobacco smoke exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
The balance between the components of coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways in neonates is not disturbed by maternal smoking.
Mercelina-Roumans
P E
PE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, De Wever Hospital, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
Ubachs
J M
JM
van Wersch
J W
JW
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D009035:Mothers; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012907:Smoking; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin / Q000032:analysis
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; C036309:fibrin fragment D; C037742:plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex; C045879:prothrombin fragment 1.2; D000990:Antithrombin III; D011516:Prothrombin; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D003367:Cotinine