The influence of developmental haemostasis on the laboratory diagnosis andmanagement of haemostatic disorders during infancy and childhood

The physiology of the hemostatic system in children is different from that in adults. Reference ranges for components of the hemostatic system are age dependent. During early childhood, physiologic values may overlap with val ues observed in congenital deficiencies of acquired pathological conditions . Physiologically decreased plasma concentrations of hemostatic components also influence the response to antithrombotic therapy. The relevance of dev elopmental hemostasis for the laboratory diagnosis and management of hemorr hagic and thrombotic disorders during childhood is discussed.