Risk factors and treatments for disseminated intravascular coagulation in neonates

Although disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a critical disease, there is few gold standard interventions in neonatal medicine. The aim of this study is to reveal factors affecting neonatal DIC at birth and to assess the effectiveness of rTM and FFP for DIC in neonates at birth.

We retrospectively evaluated DIC score on the first day of life in neonates with underlying conditions associated with DIC. DIC in neonates was diagnosed according to Japan Society of Obstetrical, Gynecological & Neonatal Hematology 2016 neonatal DIC criteria.

Comparing neonates with DIC scores of ≥3 (n = 103) to those < 3 (n = 263), SGA, birth asphyxia, low Apgar score, hemangioma, hydrops, PIH, and PA were statistically increased. Among 55 neonates underwent DIC treatment, 53 had birth asphyxia and 12 had intraventricular hemorrhage. Forty-one neonates received FFP or a combination of FFP and antithrombin (FFP group), while 14 neonates received rTM or a combination of rTM, FFP, and antithrombin (rTM group). DIC score before treatment in the rTM group was significantly higher than in the FFP group (4.7 vs 3.6, P < 0.05). After treatment, DIC scores in both groups were significantly reduced on Day 1 and Day 2 (P < 0.05).

Among various factors associated with DIC in neonates at birth, birth asphyxia is particularly significant. Furthermore, rTM in combination with FFP therapy was effective for neonatal DIC at birth.