Factor VIII related antigen in term and preterm newborns with severe neonatal haemorrhage.

Plasma factor VIII related antigen (VIIIR:Ag) concentrations were studied in term and preterm newborn infants. The control population was a group of normal children 2 to 12 years of age without any manifest disorder. The aim of the present investigation was to follow the change of VIIIR:Ag in the newborn and to study its level in sick preterm infants with severe bleeding disease. The VIIIR:Ag level in the control children was 86.2 +/- 20.5%. The lowest concentration was measured in term infants between 48-72 hours of life. The highest VIIIR:Ag level (129.1 +/- 8.1%) was found in those preterm newborns who died of pulmonary and intracranial bleeding in the early neonatal period. VIIIR:Ag is a useful marker of endothelial cell damage in the perinatal period.