ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sonoclot Analyzer has been widely used for more than five years in The United States to evaluate the platelet function and coagulation in adult. No clinical trial with the Analyzer has been reported in the field of pediatrics. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Sonoclot Analyzer for urgent determination of platelet function and coagulation in newborns. METHODS: Venous blood samples were drawn from the umbilical vein in 70 healthy newborns, and from the median cubital vein in 70 healthy adult volunteers, between 24 to 40 years of age, for control. DP2951 Sonoclot II Surgical Analyzer with graphic printer was used to evaluate the hemostatic clot formation. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that Sono ACT (activated coagulation time), peak time and retraction time increased by 36%, 66% and 70% respectively in newborns, while clot rate decreased by 69% in comparison with that of these adults. CONCLUSIONS: The results of using the Sonoclot Analyzer in this study confirmed other previous investigation that platelet function and coagulation are altered in newborns when compared with that of adults. The Sonoclot Analyzer is a simple device, easy to perform; It requires only small amounts of blood sampled (0.4 ml), and provides a rapid coagulation function for newborns.
