SummaryThe present study comprises of 208 term, 159 preterm and 18 post-term neonates born to mothers with no history of drug intake or any disease likely to effect coagulation of the newborn. PT, TT and KCCT were relatively prolonged and plasma fibrinogen reduced to varying degree in newborns (as compared to adults). There was further prolongation of TT and reduction in plasma fibrinogen levels amongst preterm newborns as compared to term babies; TT was more prolonged amongst post-term babies also. PT was significantly more prolonged till 30 weeks of gestation, after which a near plateau was formed. KCCT showed significant improvement after 33 weeks and a further trend to normalisation after 38 weeks of gestation. Serum FDP values showed too much of variation for any meaningful statistical analysis but generally FDPs were higher in preterm babies. Intrauterine growth rate had no significant effect on these parameters amongst preterms -similar values for SGA (small for gestational age), AGA (appropriate for gestational age) and LGA (large for gestational age). On the other hand, amongst term babies SGA neonates had significantly prolonged PT and low plasma fibrinogen as compared to AGA; LGA babies also showed more prolongation of TT as compared to AGA.

Summary Twelve Indian patients with pre‐eclampsia, 15 with eclampsia and 15 with normal pregnancy in the third trimester were investigated. A systemic bleeding diathesis was encountered in two patients with eclampsia and in none with pre‐eclampsia; two patients with pre‐eclampsia, however, had excessive uterine haemorrhage. Coagulation studies showed statistically significant prolongation of thrombin time, elevation of serum fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and hypofibrino‐ genaemia in patients with pre‐eclampsia as well as eclampsia. In patients with eclampsia, significant thrombocytopenia also occurred. Euglobulin lysis time showed no significant change in patients with pre‐eclampsia and eclampsia. There was no significant difference in the coagulation profile between patients with eclampsia and pre‐eclampsia, except for more hypofibrinogenaemia in the former. The laboratory findings suggest the occurrence of intravascular coagulation

Objectives:To investigate the effect of viral hepatitis on serum levels of apo- and lipoproteins in different forms of liver diseases. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty adult patients and 100 healthy age- and gender-matched control individuals participated in this study. Patients were grouped according to four types of liver disease: acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis (CAH), cirrhosis of the liver and fulminant hepatic failure. Results: Hepatitis B virus, C virus and E virus (HEV) infections were recorded in different combinations in these patients, but viral infections of hepatitis A and D were not seen in any of the patient groups. The results of lipo- and apoprotein analysis showed different patterns. The low-density lipoprotein value was high in the CAH group. In the other three groups, low-density lipoprotein level was comparable to the control value. The high-density lipoprotein level (p = 0.02) was significantly low in all groups except in the cirrhosis group. Apo-A was significantly reduced in the acute viral hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure groups, whereas Apo-B level was low in the CAH and cirrhosis groups. The lipoprotein (a) level in these groups was low, compared to control. Conclusion: No apparent relationship was observed between etiological viruses and ensuing changes in lipid/lipoprotein profile.