Platelet characteristics in extremely preterm infants after fatty acid supplementation: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Two risk factors for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants are thrombocytopenia and low levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). To date, these risk factors have not been linked.

Method

Infants born < 28 weeks gestational age (GA) from 2016 to 2019 were randomized to postnatal enteral AA/DHA supplementation or standard care (controls). Levels of AA and DHA, platelet counts ( < 100 × 10⁹/L defined as thrombocytopenia) and platelet-related proteins in the infants' first four weeks of life were evaluated for their association with severe ROP.

Results

The mean birthweight of 178 included infants was 806 ± 200 grams, and the mean GA was 25.6 ± 1.4 weeks. During the first four postnatal weeks, 20.2%

SUBMITTER: Lundgren P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12454127 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature