DIC-like syndrome in a post-pre-eclampsia birth in a premature infant in a peri-COVID scenario

This article outlines an unusual presentation of a premature infant born from a pre-eclamptic mother born with a presentation resembling a disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension, also known as pre-eclampsia, and premature birth pose significant risks to neonates, making the fetus more susceptible to immunodeficiencies and coagulopathies. This article highlights a premature infant born to a pre-eclamptic mother with multiple complications. Our case involved jaundice, neonatal meningitis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, hemorrhage, apnea, gastrointestinal defects, and periventricular leukomalacia. Often these complications are seen immediately after birth; these symptoms may present after a certain amount of time lapses if the neonates if afflicted with malignancy or a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection. Here we describe the case of a premature neonate born to a preeclamptic mother that experienced these complications one day after her birth.

This is the first known case of an infant experiencing a "DIC-like" syndrome without any diagnosis of a primary hematological malignancy or infection after a certain amount of time had lapsed since her birth. As complications in premature infants as well as those from pre-eclamptic mothers are common, this case report highlights a successful model of care. We also explore the effect of a peri-COVID setting on the presentation of this patient, as similar cases have occurred post-COVID-19.