Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with Sepsis

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Platelet transfusions are administered to preterm neonates with thrombocytopenia prophylactically to decrease their bleeding risk. The amplitude difference between the extrinsic rotational thromboelastometry (EXTEM) and the fibrinogen rotational thromboelast...

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Main Authors: Dimitra Gialamprinou, Christos-Georgios Kontovazainitis, Abraham Pouliakis, Alexandra Fleva, Anastasia Giannakou, Elisavet Diamanti, Panagiotis Kratimenos, Georgios Mitsiakos
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/7/948
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author Dimitra Gialamprinou
Christos-Georgios Kontovazainitis
Abraham Pouliakis
Alexandra Fleva
Anastasia Giannakou
Elisavet Diamanti
Panagiotis Kratimenos
Georgios Mitsiakos
author_facet Dimitra Gialamprinou
Christos-Georgios Kontovazainitis
Abraham Pouliakis
Alexandra Fleva
Anastasia Giannakou
Elisavet Diamanti
Panagiotis Kratimenos
Georgios Mitsiakos
author_sort Dimitra Gialamprinou
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Platelet transfusions are administered to preterm neonates with thrombocytopenia prophylactically to decrease their bleeding risk. The amplitude difference between the extrinsic rotational thromboelastometry (EXTEM) and the fibrinogen rotational thromboelastometry (FIBTEM) assays is considered an index of platelet contribution to clot strength, guiding transfusion management. The difference in maximum clot elasticity (MCE) (namely the platelet contribution to clot elasticity—MCEplatelet) is considered highly accurate. Limited data exist to specify the contribution of platelets and fibrinogen in clot formation during sepsis in neonates with thrombocytopenia. We investigated the potential of MCFplatelet (platelet contribution to clot firmness) and MCEplatelet in reflecting platelet count and function in septic preterm neonates. We simultaneously assessed the contribution of both platelets and fibrinogen to clot strength during sepsis. <b>Methods</b>: We compared 28 preterm neonates with sepsis born (gestational age 24<sup>+1</sup>-34<sup>+3</sup>) with 30 healthy counterparts by using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and platelet flow cytometry. <b>Results</b>: MCEplatelet showed a higher association with platelet count in the sepsis group than MCFplatelet (R<sup>2</sup> = 47.66% vs. R<sup>2</sup> = 18.79%). MCEplatelet (AUC = 0.81) had better discrimination capability than MCFplatelet (AUC = 0.78) in platelet count <100 × 10<sup>3</sup>/L. MCEplatelet was poorly associated with platelet function. The contribution of platelets was significantly lower (MCEplatelet = 84.03 vs. 89.21; <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared with fibrinogen (36.9 vs. 25.92; <i>p</i> < 0.001) in the sepsis group. <b>Conclusions</b>: MCEplatelet has a better predictive value than MCFplatelet. In clinical practice, the elasticity difference between EXTEM and FIBTEM may replace the amplitude difference. The higher contribution of fibrinogen in clot strength during neonatal sepsis results in higher MCF, even in neonates with thrombocytopenia.
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spelling doaj-art-163f0800e744437f8d8cfede0a8aece82025-08-20T02:45:34ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-07-0112794810.3390/children12070948Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with SepsisDimitra Gialamprinou0Christos-Georgios Kontovazainitis1Abraham Pouliakis2Alexandra Fleva3Anastasia Giannakou4Elisavet Diamanti5Panagiotis Kratimenos6Georgios Mitsiakos72nd Neonatal Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” University Hospital, Ring Road, Municipality of Pavlou Mela, Area N. Evkarpia, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece2nd Neonatal Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” University Hospital, Ring Road, Municipality of Pavlou Mela, Area N. Evkarpia, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece2nd Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Attikon” University Hospital, Rimini 1, Area Chaidari, 12462 Athens, GreeceImmunology and Histocompatibility Department, “Papageorgiou” University Hospital, Ring Road, Municipality of Pavlou Mela, Area N. Evkarpia, 56403 Thessaloniki, GreeceImmunology and Histocompatibility Department, “Papageorgiou” University Hospital, Ring Road, Municipality of Pavlou Mela, Area N. Evkarpia, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece2nd Neonatal Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” University Hospital, Ring Road, Municipality of Pavlou Mela, Area N. Evkarpia, 56403 Thessaloniki, GreeceDivision of Neonatology, Children’s National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA2nd Neonatal Department and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” University Hospital, Ring Road, Municipality of Pavlou Mela, Area N. Evkarpia, 56403 Thessaloniki, Greece<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Platelet transfusions are administered to preterm neonates with thrombocytopenia prophylactically to decrease their bleeding risk. The amplitude difference between the extrinsic rotational thromboelastometry (EXTEM) and the fibrinogen rotational thromboelastometry (FIBTEM) assays is considered an index of platelet contribution to clot strength, guiding transfusion management. The difference in maximum clot elasticity (MCE) (namely the platelet contribution to clot elasticity—MCEplatelet) is considered highly accurate. Limited data exist to specify the contribution of platelets and fibrinogen in clot formation during sepsis in neonates with thrombocytopenia. We investigated the potential of MCFplatelet (platelet contribution to clot firmness) and MCEplatelet in reflecting platelet count and function in septic preterm neonates. We simultaneously assessed the contribution of both platelets and fibrinogen to clot strength during sepsis. <b>Methods</b>: We compared 28 preterm neonates with sepsis born (gestational age 24<sup>+1</sup>-34<sup>+3</sup>) with 30 healthy counterparts by using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and platelet flow cytometry. <b>Results</b>: MCEplatelet showed a higher association with platelet count in the sepsis group than MCFplatelet (R<sup>2</sup> = 47.66% vs. R<sup>2</sup> = 18.79%). MCEplatelet (AUC = 0.81) had better discrimination capability than MCFplatelet (AUC = 0.78) in platelet count <100 × 10<sup>3</sup>/L. MCEplatelet was poorly associated with platelet function. The contribution of platelets was significantly lower (MCEplatelet = 84.03 vs. 89.21; <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared with fibrinogen (36.9 vs. 25.92; <i>p</i> < 0.001) in the sepsis group. <b>Conclusions</b>: MCEplatelet has a better predictive value than MCFplatelet. In clinical practice, the elasticity difference between EXTEM and FIBTEM may replace the amplitude difference. The higher contribution of fibrinogen in clot strength during neonatal sepsis results in higher MCF, even in neonates with thrombocytopenia.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/7/948neonatal sepsisthromboelastometryplatelet function teststhrombocytopeniafibrinogenplatelet transfusion
spellingShingle Dimitra Gialamprinou
Christos-Georgios Kontovazainitis
Abraham Pouliakis
Alexandra Fleva
Anastasia Giannakou
Elisavet Diamanti
Panagiotis Kratimenos
Georgios Mitsiakos
Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with Sepsis
Children
neonatal sepsis
thromboelastometry
platelet function tests
thrombocytopenia
fibrinogen
platelet transfusion
title Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with Sepsis
title_full Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with Sepsis
title_fullStr Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with Sepsis
title_full_unstemmed Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with Sepsis
title_short Platelet and Fibrinogen Contribution to Clot Strength in Premature Neonates with Sepsis
title_sort platelet and fibrinogen contribution to clot strength in premature neonates with sepsis
topic neonatal sepsis
thromboelastometry
platelet function tests
thrombocytopenia
fibrinogen
platelet transfusion
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/7/948
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