title: Neonatal thrombocytopenia and platelets transfusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neonates often develop thrombocytopenia at some time during hospital stay. Platelet transfusion are frequently given to them and are likely to result in unnecessary transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thus, we analyzed thrombocytopenia in neonates, its prevalence, and relationship if any, between clinical condition and platelet transfusion in neonates, which would have been helpful in developing guidelines and/or protocols for platelet transfusion (and reducing the donor exposure) in neonates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 870 neonates who were admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with various morbidities had platelets count done; of these, 146 (16.7%) neonate revealed thrombocytopenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low birth weight babies (P 0.009) and babies born with mother having hypertension (P 0.04) showed significant thrombocytopenia. Neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) diagnosed during antenatal screening showed lower platelet count (P 0.022). Neonates having associated illness, such as sepsis, gastrointestinal, and respiratory problems, and on vasopressor drugs were found to be associated with low platelet count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, 16.40% of thrombocytopenic neonates required platelet transfusion either alone or with other blood component during their stay in NICU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Centre for Newborn Care, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Sudarshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahl