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The D-dimer reference intervals in healty term newborns
Zamin İbrahim Khalilov1, Ayşe Ünsal2, Nilgün Altuntaş3
1Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara city Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Summary
Neonatal D-dimer levels are higher than adult levels and decrease with age. Age-specific reference values are crucial for accurate interpretation in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Neonatal Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- D-dimer is a marker of fibrinolysis, and its levels vary with age.
- Establishing accurate reference intervals for D-dimer in neonates is essential for clinical interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the D-dimer reference intervals in healthy term newborns during the first month of life.
- To assess the correlation between D-dimer levels and postnatal age in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 134 healthy term newborns (1-28 days old).
- D-dimer, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and platelet counts were measured.
- Reference intervals were established using 2.5th and 97.5th percentile values.
Main Results:
- The mean D-dimer level in neonates (1-28 days) was 1.74 ± 1.88 mg/L (reference range: 0.25-2.81 mg/L).
- D-dimer levels showed an inverse correlation with postnatal age (r: -0.3, p < 0.001).
- Neonatal D-dimer levels remained significantly higher than adult reference levels throughout the first month.
Conclusions:
- D-dimer levels in the neonatal period are elevated compared to adults and decrease over the first month.
- Age-specific reference values are recommended for evaluating D-dimer levels in newborns.
- These findings aid in the accurate interpretation of D-dimer tests in neonatal care.
