Evaluation With Positive Direct Coomb’S Test In Newborn

In recent years, increase in the frequency of positive direct Coomb’s (DC) test in newborns without blood incompatibilitiy is remarkable. The objective of the present study is to determine the associated factors that causing this increase. Ninety-seven patients with positive DC test from 2362 newborns who were hospitalized in Neonatology Unit of Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine between June 2004-November 2006 have reviewed retrospectively. The prevalance of positive DC test was 4.1%. Twenty-six patients were premature. Hemolysis was determined in 41 patients. In 22 patients DC test was negative initially, but became positive in time. The DC test were became positive during the time, in 34.6% of premature and 14% of term newborns respectively. In 35 patients without blood incompatibility; intrauterine and postpartum systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and/or infection, various antenatal risks, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy and antibiotic use were determined. In the newborns with positive DC test, the most common etiologic factors after blood group incompatibility are SIRS and/or infection, transfusion of blood and blood products, IVIG therapy and more rarely the resulting antibodies from various reasons.