Maternal early-onset preeclampsia places preterm infants at risk of thrombocytopenia requiring platelet transfusions

Abstract

Introduction: Changes in hematological parameters in the blood counts collected after birth associated with preeclampsia (PE) have been demonstrated by recent studies, although inconsistently. Objectives: Evaluate the hematological parameters and indices in the blood count collected on the first day of life (D1) in very premature infants born to mothers with early-onset PE (EoPE) and their correlation with increased neonatal morbimortality. Methods: Retrospective study between 2008 and 2023, at a level III NICU, including preterm infants with a gestational age below 30 weeks. A blood count was collected on D1 and a comparison of hematological parameters and indices was made between infants exposed or not to EoPE. Results: We included 206 newborns (EoPE=39; no-EoPE=167). The multivariate analyses showed no significant hematological changes. EoPE-exposed infants required significantly more platelet transfusions (EoPE: n=20 [51.8%]; no-EoPE: n=34 [20.36%]; p<0.0001). Conclusion: EoPE-exposed preterms required more platelet transfusions, which increases the risk of associated complications.