Disseminated intravascular coagulation in the newborn.

We have reviewed 53 cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in the newborn, including 29 cases that were confirmed at autopsy. Factors predisposing to DIC included maternal complications (60%), low Apgar scores (30%), hyaline membrane disease (62%), and sepsis (26%). Diagnostic criteria common to autopsy-proved cases included presence of fibrin degradation products, low factor V activity, a prolonged prothrombin time, and a prolonged partial thromboplastin time and/or thrombocytopenia. There appeared to be no difference in coagulation response or in mortality among patients treated with different therapeutic regimens. Survivors were older gestationally, had higher birth weights, and higher Apgar scores.