study of antithrombin III level in healthy and septic neonates

ABSTRACT

Antihtrombin III level was studied in 48 neonates admitted to the neonatal care unit of Benha University hospital. They were classitied into 4 groups Group I 9 full term healthy neonates. Group II 9 full term septic neonates. Group III 10 preterm healthy neonates, Group IV 10 preterm septic neonates. Our study revealed that antithrombin III [AT III] level was significantly reduced in septic full term neonates compared to healthy full term neonates. Mean level was [45.2 +/- 7.57] and [50.6 +/- 7.6] in septic full term and healthy full term respectively with [P<0.01]. It was also significantly reduced in septic preterm neonates compared to healthy preterm neonates. Mean level was [21.6 +/- 4.19] and [39.7 +/- 4.41] with [P<0.001] in septic preterm and healthy pattern respectively. Finally antithrorithin III level is significantly reduced in preterm whether healthy or septic compared to full term neonates whether healthy or septic. Thus we conclude that neonates especially if they are preterm and septic will have marked reduction in antithrombin III level this creates a state of hypercoagulability with great risk of thrombotic complication varying from superficial vein thrombosis, to cerebral thrombosis or in its severe form to disseminated intravascular coagulation [DIC]