Prevention of vitamin K deficiency in infancy by weekly administration of vitamin K.

Abstract

Vitamin K prophylaxis has been developed to prevent classic haemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Single vitamin K administration after birth has been reported to fail, resulting in late haemorrhagic disease of the newborn. The preventive effect of oral administration of vitamin K1 1 mg, repeated weekly during the first three months of life, was studied in 48 healthy breast-fed infants, by determination of thrombotest, PIVKA-II and vitamin K1 concentrations at the age of 4, 8 and 12 weeks. All infants showed normal thrombotest values and PIVKA-II was not detectable. Vitamin K1 concentrations were negatively correlated with the number of days elapsed since the most recent vitamin K administration. Six to seven days after the latest application, mean levels were 1223, 927 and 748 pg/ml at ages 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively. In conclusion, weekly administration of vitamin K1 1 mg offers complete protection against vitamin K deficiency and does not result in an accumulation of vitamin K1 in the blood.

• Authors: E A Cornelissen, L A Kollée, R A De Abreu, K Motohara, L A Monnens
• Journal: Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) (Acta Paediatr) Vol. 82 Issue 8 Pg. 656-9 (Aug 1993) ISSN: 0803-5253 [Print] Norway
• PMID: 8374213 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Blood Proteins
• Protein Precursors
• Vitamin K
• acarboxyprothrombin
• Vitamin K 1
• Prothrombin

Topics

• Biomarkers
• Blood Proteins (analysis)
• Breast Feeding
• Drug Evaluation
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Protein Precursors (analysis)
• Prothrombin (analysis)
• Prothrombin Time
• Time Factors
• Vitamin K (administration & dosage)
• Vitamin K 1 (blood)
• Vitamin K Deficiency (blood, prevention & control)
• Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (blood, prevention & control)