Association of thrombocytopenia and delivery method with intraventricular hemorrhage among very-low-birth-weight infants.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the significance of neonatal thrombocytopenia and delivery method on the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage in infants weighing <1500 g.

STUDY

DESIGN

A total of 1283 infants weighing <1500 g who were admitted to six neonatal intensive care units over 21 months were analyzed prospectively. Illness severity was measured by the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology (SNAP).

RESULTS

Of the infants analyzed, 145 (11.3%) had thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100 x 10(9)/L). The incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage was greater among infants with thrombocytopenia than among those without (44.8% vs 23.9%, P <.0001). Non-thrombocytopenic infants who were delivered vaginally had a higher incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage than those delivered via cesarean section (35.8% vs 15.9%, P <.0001). Thrombocytopenic infants who were delivered vaginally had the highest incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (63.4% vs 37.5% for cesarean section, P =.005). Vaginal delivery and platelets < 50 x 10(9)/L on day 1 were independent risk factors for intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0-3.8 and OR 11.2, 95% CI 3.0-42.5, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This multicenter study confirms that thrombocytopenia and intraventricular hemorrhage are not uncommon in neonates who weigh <1500 g, and that the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage is higher in those thrombocytopenic infants delivered vaginally.