title: The coagulation system of extremely preterm infants: influence of perinatal risk factors on coagulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the influence of preterm delivery and perinatal risk factors on development and expression of the coagulation system in extremely preterm infants. The objective of this study was to determine reference values for the components of the coagulation system at the first day of life in extremely preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Components of the coagulation system were examined retrospectively in 132 extremely preterm infants. Patients were grouped according to clinical criteria for preterm delivery: group A: maternal indication; group B: uteroplacental dysfunction; group C: systemic inflammation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of coagulation factors VII and X rose with increasing gestational age, whereas fibrinogen and coagulation factors II, V and VIII remained constant. Levels of factors V and VIII were higher than those of vitamin K-dependent factors. If preterm delivery was caused by placental disorder (group B) or chorioamnionitis (group C), levels of factor II, VIII and X were significantly lower, whereas factor V and VII levels did not differ. In group C fibrinogen levels in group C were higher compared with group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identification of perinatal risk factors may help to define patients at risk of bleeding disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. christine.poralla@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poralla
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traut
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hertfelder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heep
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010920:Placenta / Q000503:physiopathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors