Is a small platelet mass associated with intraventricular hemorrhage in very low-birth-weight infants?

Objective:we sought to determine whether, among very low-birth-weight (vlbw) neonates, the platelet mass was associated with common perinatal factors, and whether a low platelet mass in the first days following birth was associated with a higher incidence and/or severity of intraventricular hemorrhage (ivh).study design:this was a cross-sectional, retrospective cohort analysis of vlbw infants admitted to a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit from june 2003 to july 2006, n=408. platelet mass was calculated and recorded on the day of birth and for 2 consecutive days thereafter. all neonates had a screening cranial sonogram on day 4 of life. statistical analysis included analysis of variance and mann–whitney u-test.result:neonates born to mothers with pre-eclampsia had a smaller platelet mass (1921 fl/nl±603 vs 2297 fl/nl±747; p<0.01). the same was found among neonates with intrauterine growth restriction (iugr). in contrast, neonates born after histological chorioamnionitis had a larger platelet mass (2400 fl/nl±749 vs 2036 fl/nl±674; p<0.01). no effect of platelet mass, measured on the day of birth, was observed related the outcomes of ivh, severe ivh or death. however, those with a platelet mass <10th percentile on the 2 subsequent days following birth were more likely to have severe ivh or death.conclusion:among vlbw neonates, pre-eclampsia and iugr are associated with a lower platelet mass, owing to their effect on platelet count. histological chorioamnionits is associated with a larger platelet mass. a mass <10th percentile on the days following birth was associated with severe ivh and/or death, but it remains unclear whether this is a cause of, or an effect of, the ivh.