Thrombocytopenia and Associated Factors in Neonates Admitted to NICU during Years 2010_2011

BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia is the most common hematological abnormality which is encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The incidence in neonates varies greatly, depending upon the population studies. According to the frequency of thrombocytopenia and its complications and because of lack of such research in Iran, this study was performed on neonates admitted to Shahid Sadughi NICU during years 2011-2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a retrospective study, 350 neonates who were admitted to NICU were enrolled in the study. They were categorized to three groups regarding platelet count: mild, moderate and severe thrombocytopenia. Incidence of thrombocytopenia was determined and contribution of variables such as sex, gestational age, intrauterine growth retardation, asphyxia, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, blood group, placental insufficiency in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and hypertension (HTN) were analyzed. RESULTS Neonatal thrombocytopenia was found in 100(28.5%) of 350 subjects, consisted of 75.3% early onset and 24.7% late onset, which most of them (96.5%) had mild and moderate thrombocytopenia, and just 3.5% had developed severe thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia was associated with sepsis, intrauterine growth retardation sepsis, asphyxia, GDM, maternal hypertension and prematurity. There was no relation between occurrence of thrombocytopenia and gender. CONCLUSION  The incidence of neonatal thrombocytopenia was 28.5 %. Significant maternal risk factors that lead to thrombocytopenia were HTN and preeclampsia, while risk factors of neonates were asphyxia, sepsis and Intera Uterus Growth Retardation.