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Background and Objective: Neonatal thrombocytopenia (NTP) is one of the most common neonatal hematological disorders. The causes of NTP are very various, leading to large differences in the clinical profile of the affected neonates. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics, clinical diagnoses and short-term outcomes of NTP in Bahrami Children's Hospital, Iran. Methods: This descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on all neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Bahrami Children's Hospital in 2017-2019. The infants diagnosed with NTP, defined as a platelet count of <150000 on at least 2 occasions, were retrospectively evaluated. Data on patients' NTP and short-term outcomes were reported. Incomplete medical records were excluded from the study. Findings: Out of 2000 neonates, 210 patients were diagnosed with NTP with a prevalence of 10.5%. Totally, 60% and 71.4% of infants were premature and underweight, respectively. Moreover, 30 and 20.9% of infants had premature and severe NTP, respectively. The most common clinical diagnosis was sepsis (68.1%). The mean length of stay in NICU was 12.3±9.5 days. Additionally, 20.9% of infants had at least one episode of severe hemorrhage, received a platelet transfusion, and 10.4% of infants expired during their NICU stay. Conclusion: The prevalence of NTP was 10.5%. Despite the relatively high prevalence of preterm birth, low-birth weight and sepsis, the majority of our neonates recovered. Prospective studies are recommended to investigate the role of each predisposing factor in the development and outcome of NTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a major cause of brain injury in preterm infants. Considering the high prevalence of IVH in preterm infants and the importance of determining the risk factors, this study was done to evaluate the prevalence of various grades of IVH and identify the different associated factors and short-term complications. Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of 54 preterm infants (26-37 weeks gestational age) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Bahrami Hospital, Tehran, Iran (2015-2018) were examined. Cranial ultrasonography was performed in all patients, and IVH was classified into 4 grades. A checklist was prepared and filled them out, and then the data were analyzed using SPSS-21. Findings: Out of all subjects, IVH was found in 11 infants (20.4%). The most frequent IVH grades were 1 and 2. The most common Apgar scores in the fifth minute was 6. The mean weight of infants and Apgar score in patients with IVH was significantly lower than that of those without IVH. In multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors affecting IVH, Apgar score was the only significant independent predictor of IVH, such that with each number increase in Apgar score, the risk of IVH decreased (up to 100%). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, birth weight, gestational age and fifthminute Apgar score were associated with IVH. Prevention of preterm birth and other preventive measures can reduce the complications of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Neonatal jaundice is a common condition among neonates in the first few days of life and is a leading cause of admission among neonates. The aim of this study was to investigate the most common risk factors associated with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NNH) and short-term complications of the exchange transfusion (ET). Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of newborns <28 days with severe hyperbilirubinemia who underwent ET during 2015-2018 were analyzed. Medical records and files were searched using the keyword "exchange transfusion". The clinical and demographic characteristics of the study population as well as the short-term complications of ET were descriptively analyzed. Findings: Totally, 74 newborns with the mean age of 5.6±3.4 days were included in the current study. The baseline mean peak total serum bilirubin (TSB) was 25.8±5.7 mg/dl. In neonates, the ABO incompatibility was the most frequent cause of severe hyperbilirubinemia requiring ET (54.1%), followed by sepsis (39.2%). Moreover, 57.7% of neonates developed complications secondary to ET. The most common complication was hyperglycemia (71.6%), followed by thrombocytopenia (48.6%). Conclusion: Hemolysis and sepsis are common causes of NNH; therefore, the extensive screening and identification of the at-risk population can help decrease the incidence of severe NNH. Frequent monitoring of blood sugar and screening of thrombocytopenia before and after ET procedures are necessary to reduce adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]