ABSTRACT
Sepsis is often associated with hemostatic dysfunction. This study aimed to relate changes in some fibrinolysis and coagulation activation markers to neonatal sepsis and its outcome. Plasminogen activity, fibrinogen level and fibrin monomer complexes were measured in 22 infants with neonatal septicemia [9 cases with uncomplicated sepsis and 13 cases with septic shock] and the results were compared with those observed in 10 normal neonates. All neonates were subjected to proper clinical examination and routine laboratory investigation. The TLC was higher in uncomplicated sepsis relative to control and septic shock although not statistically significant. The platelet count showed significant decrease in both groups of sepsis. Fibrinogen level showed significant increase in uncomplicated sepsis group compared with control and septic shock groups. Plasminogen activity showed a significant difference between control and septic shock groups, highly significant difference between subgroups of sepsis and insignificant difference between control and uncomplicated sepsis. The frequency of fibrin monomers positivity, CRP positivity and DIC was higher in septic shock relative to uncomplicated sepsis although the difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of septic shock was higher with gram +ve septicemia. This study highlights the importance of measuring fibrinogen level, plasminogen activity, fibrin monomers, TLC and platelets count as diagnostic and prognostic markers for predicting morbidity and mortality of neonatal septicemia