Factors XI and XII and Prekallikrein in Sick and Healthy Premature Infants

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Abstract
PREMATURE infants have markedly decreased levels of factors XI and XII and prekallikrein, which play an important part in the initiation of blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, kinin generation, and complement activation.1 The mechanisms responsible for the low levels of these factors are unknown. Our study shows that in healthy infants, the biologic activity of factors XI and XII and prekallikrein correlates with gestational age and postnatal age, that poor clinical status further depresses these factors and prevents a normal postnatal rise, and that a dysfunctional molecule is partly responsible for the decreased factor XII activity.MethodsAll premature infants admitted to . . .