Electrokinetic behaviour of cord blood platelets in acidosis: an in vitro study.

The effect of acidosis on platelet surface potential was studied in vitro in samples obtained from newborn infants. It was found that acidosis induced by CO2 and lactic acid decreased the electrophoretic mobility of platelets in the presence of plasma. It is suggested that the changed electrokinetic properties of platelets in acidosis may be an additional factor contributing to bleeding manifestations and thrombotic complications often seen in babies with perinatal asphyxia.