Transfusing Neonates Based on Platelet Mass

Christiana Care Health Services

Status: Completed

Conditions: Thrombocytopenia

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00759980

28156

Details and patient eligibility

About

Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) is common in the neonatal intensive care unit. Commonly, the decision of when to transfuse platelets is based on platelet number. Recently, Christensen et al (2006) proposed using transfusion guidelines based on platelet mass rather than platelet number. By using platelet size as a guide of when to give platelets, we may be able to decrease the amount platelet transfusions needed.

This study is investigating using platelet size rather than platelet number as a guideline for transfusing platelets in infants who are hospitalized in a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). After obtaining parental informed consent, thrombocytopenic infants will be randomized to one of two groups. 1: Transfusion based on platelet number; 2: transfusion based on a combination of platelet number and platelet mass. In each group the decision to transfuse platelets will be made using a slightly different, yet strict set of transfusion rules.

The objective is to determine the feasibility, rate of bleeding complications and compliance of transfusing neonates based on platelet mass rather than platelet number.

The investigators hypothesize that transfusing platelets based on platelet mass will not increase bleeding complications and will reduce the number of transfusions in thrombocytopenic neonates.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 12 months old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Thrombocytopenic infants

Exclusion criteria

• Major congenital anomalies

Trial design

50 participants in 2 patient groups

Platelet Number

Description:

Infants randomized to this group will be transfused based on a specific set of transfusion guidelines pertaining to the total number of platelets

Platelet Mass

Description:

Infants randomized to this group will be transfused based on a specific set of transfusion guidelines pertaining to a combination of platelet number and platelet size (mass)