Effect of perinatal factors on platelet indices in late preterm and term newborns

Abstract

This study aimed to compare platelet indices between late preterm and term newborns, and to analyze their relationship with perinatal conditions. Material and Method: Ninety-eight late preterm and 102 term newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between 2018 and 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Platelet indices including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were measured in blood samples taken on the first day of life. Results: There was no significant difference in the PLT, MPV, PCT, and PDW values between late preterm and term newborns. In late preterm newborns, multivariable analysis showed that maternal hypertension was significantly related to lower PLT (p=0.001). In term newborns, multivariable analysis showed that being small for gestational age (SGA), male sex, and maternal hypertension were significantly related to lower PLT (p<0.001, p=0.001 and p=0.017, respectively). In addition, SGA and male sex were related to lower PCT (p=0.001). In all studied patients, MPV was significantly different between infants with and without prolonged rupture of membrane (PROM) (9.8 fL vs. 9.2 fL, p=0.001). Conclusion:The obtained results show that various perinatal features influence the platelet indices in late preterm and term newborns.