Epidemiologic and outcome studies of patients who received platelet transfusions in the neonatal intensive care unit.
METHODS
We conducted a historic cohort study of neonates who received platelet transfusions at the National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, from January 1997 to May 2000. We obtained descriptive and outcome data, and assessed demographic and laboratory means of predicting "good candidates" for a future recombinant thrombopoietin (rTpo) trial.


RESULTS
A minority of the transfused patients (11.4%) received only one transfusion; the majority (88.6%) received multiple transfusions. Neonates who received one or more platelet transfusions were more likely to die (24.5% mortality) than neonates who received no platelet transfusions (3.7% mortality). Regression analyses indicated that the presence of liver disease was the best predictor of a "good candidate" for rTpo administration.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of neonates in our institution who receive platelet transfusions receive multiple, not single, transfusions. Receiving any platelet transfusion is a marker for high risk of death. Neonates with liver disease who receive platelet transfusions might be a reasonable group for a phase I rTpo trial.
Garcia
M G
MG
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, FL 32610-0296, USA.
Duenas
E
E
Sola
M C
MC
Hutson
A D
AD
Theriaque
D
D
Christensen
R D
RD
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018579:Patient Selection; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013926:Thrombopoietin