An extremely high capillary hematocrit is a characteristic of newborn infants with Down's syndrome. These infants with extremely high hematocrits also had lower whole blood pro- thrombin values, probably reflecting the smaller proportion of plasma in the blood samples tested. Nevertheless, because vitamin K given to newborns with extremely high hematocrits may aggravate the risk of thrombosis, the authors advise not giving it to such infants who have no signs of hemorrhages.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Smith, C.H.: Blood diseases of infancy and childhood. St. Louis , C. V. Mosby Company, 1966, p. 15.
2.
Gardner, D., Marks, J., Roscoe, J.D. and Brettel, R.O.: The fluid shift from the vascular compartment immediately after birth . Arch. Dis. Child.33: 489, 1958.
3.
Yao, A.C., Lind, J., Tiisala, R. and Michelson, K.: Placental transfusion in the premature infant with observation on clinical course and outcome. Act. Paediat. scandinav.58: 561, 1969.
4.
Kouvalainen, K. and Österlund, K.: Placental weights in Down's syndrome . Ann. Med. exper. Fenn.45: 32, 1967.
5.
Beller, F.K. : Die Gerinnungsverhältnisse bei der Schwangeren und beim Neugeborenen. Leipzig, Barth, 1957, Ss. 24-33.
6.
Aballi, A.J. and De Lamerens, S.: Coagulation studies in the neonatal period and in early infancy. Ped. Clin. N. Am.9: 785, 1962.
