Neonatal hemorrhagic syndromes

Newborns hemorrhagic syndromes have multiple causes. Purpose. - The purpose of our study was to clarify the frequency of these c auses. Patients and methods. - Retrospective study using reports of newborns in th e neonatal unit in Sousse (Tunisia) from 1991 to 1996, hospitalized for hem orrhagic syndrome defined by bleeding, exteriorized or not, whatever its im portance, severity, causes and the associated clinical and biological disor ders. isolated meningeal hemorrhages, limited cutaneo-mucous hemorrhages (c onjunctival hemorrhages, bruises), and genital crises of the newborn, were excluded. Results. - One hundred and fifty-five hemorrhagic syndromes were observed f rom 7,128 newborn infants (2.17% of hospitalization). Sex ratio was 1.42, P rematurity rate was 35.7%. The Apgar score was < 7 at one minute in 40.7% o f cases. Disorders associated with hemorrhagic syndromes were observed in 1 18 newborn infants (76.1%) with a predominance of neonatal infections (35.6 %). The etiology of neonatal hemorrhages was specified in 93% of cases: new born hemorrhagic disease (27.7%), disseminated intravascular coagulation (2 7.1%), isolated thrombocytopenia (9%), digestive lesions (13.5%), and obste trical trauma (2.6%). Conclusion. - The frequency of the newborns hemorrhagic syndromes underline s the need for its systematic prevention by vitamin K in the antenatal peri od to the mother and after birth to the newborn. (C) 2001 Editions scientif iques et medicales Elsevier SAS.