[Antithrombin and protein C activity in the blood of premature newborns with intrauterine growth retardation].

UNLABELLED: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and prematurity are often correlated with higher mortality and morbidity in the first days of life especially due to complications such as: hypoglycemia, polycythemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, meconium aspiration syndrome. Disturbances in the haemostatic system could be responsible for poor outcome of these complications.

AIM: To determine the activity of main inhibitor of coagulation-antithrombin, level of protein C, concentration of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes and fibrinogen in the blood of premature infants with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in comparison with premature infants without IUGR.

MATERIAL: 33 premature infants with symptoms of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and 146 premature infants without IUGR were included in our trial.

RESULTS

There were no statistical differences between the analyzed groups in the level of protein C, concentration of TAT and fibrinogen. Activity of antithrombin was higher within 1 hour after birth and lower on the third day of life in the group of children with IUGR.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher activity of antithrombin after birth in the group of newborns with IUGR prevents excessive activation of coagulation. On the third or fourth day of life the activity of antithrombin decreases due to its higher consumption in the blood of newborns with IUGR.