A clinical trial on the early detection and correction of haemostatic defects in selected high-risk neonates.

Low birth weight infants, preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome and mature infants with asphyxia were screened for coagulation abnormalities as soon as possible after birth. Those with abnormal haemostasis were assigned to control or treatment groups and, in the latter case, were given prothrombin complex concentrate, cryoprecipitate or platelet concentrate as appropriate. This treatment was largely successful in correcting haemostatic defects but did not result in any change in mortality. There was no evidence of adverse or beneficial side-effects of treatment.