COAGULATION CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGH HAEMATOCRIT IN THE NEWBORN INFANT

Abstract

Sequential blood coagulation studies were performed on samples from three newborn infants with venous haematocrit values of over 65%. Combinations of thrombocytopaenia, circulating fibrin monomer and evidence of intravascular thromboplastic activity were found. Reduction of the haematocrit value by partial exchange transfusion in each infant was followed by improvement of the abnormal coagulation findings. Some possible mechanisms for the origin of the coagulation abnormalities are considered.