Intraventricular haemorrhage in the newborn.

Coagulation studies were performed on 128 babies who were premature or who had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Forty-four babies were found to have abnormal coagulation parameters. Twenty-one were treated with plasma coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X (PPSB), and of these six died from intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). Twenty-two did not have PPSB treatment and four died from IVH. In 84 babies in whom coagulation studies gave normal results only one baby died from IVH. The combination of RDS and abnormal coagulation produced a high-risk group to IVH and treatment with PPSB did not reduce the incidence of IVH. It is postulated that prevention of IVH lies in early and effective treatment of RDS.