title: Platelet indices in late preterm newborns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current study objective was to compare blood platelet indices in late preterm newborns (LPN) and full term newborns (FTN).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 58 LPN and 71 FTN. Platelet indices were estimated in blood samples collected from the umbilical artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LPN demonstrated a decreased count of blood platelets (249 × 10³/μL) as compared to FTN (295 × 10³/μL), p < 0.001. Platelet hematocrit (PCT) also showed substantial differences in both groups (LPN = 0.2% vs. FTN = 0.23%; p < 0.001). Mean platelet volume (MPV) was found to be nearly the same (LPN = 7.98fl, FTN = 7.9fl). Platelet distribution width (PDW) was higher in LPN (52.8%) than in FTN (50.6%), p = 0.02. Large platelet count (LP) was lower in LPN (4.0%) in comparison with FTN (6.0%), (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results may indicate immaturity of thrombopoiesis in newborns born late preterm. Decrease in platelet count, platelet hematocrit and large platelets can cause disturbances in the hemostatic system and lead to bleeding complications and can increase the risk of infections. Morphological parameters of blood platelets in infants born late preterm differ from those of term neonates as in other preterm infants. This reflects the immaturity of this newborn and shows the need to pay special diagnostic and therapeutic care to them.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: Wasiluk
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Alicja
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , District Hospital in Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: Polewko
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agnieszka
authors.affiliation: c Department of Perinatology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: Laudanski
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piotr
authors.affiliation: c Department of Perinatology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: Redzko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Slawomir
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , District Hospital in Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: Kicel-Wesolowska
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.affiliation: d Department of Hematological Diagnostics , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland , and.
authors.forename: Dabrowska
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milena
authors.affiliation: e Department of Statistics and Medical Informatics , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: Milewski
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robert
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D063847:Mean Platelet Volume; D010976:Platelet Count
keywords: Platelet indices; late preterm newborns; morphology