Blood coagulation in healthy and severely ill newborn infants.

Normal values of blood coagulation factors were investigated in 30 healthy newborn infants. On the basis of these normal standards 8 infants with DIC were evaluated. All of them had serious underlying diseases. By appropriate treatment of the primary disorder and replacement of depleted procoagulants, the bleeding disorder disappeared in six of eight patients without heparinization. Diagnostic criteria and management of neonatal disseminated intravascular coagulation are discussed.