title: Efficacy of oral water soluble vitamin K in neonates.
abstract: Effect of oral water soluble synthetic Vitamin K on prothrombin time was evaluated in 120 full term exclusively breast fed babies. Group A (n = 30) received 1 mg vitamin K (menadione sodium disulphite) intramuscularly at birth, Group B (n = 30) received 0.5 mg intramuscularly, Group C (n = 30) 1 mg orally and Group D (n = 30) did not receive any vitamin K. Prothrombin time (PT) was measured in all between 36-72 hours of age. The PT values in the four Groups A, B, C and D were 17.1 +/- 2.68 seconds, 17.2 +/- 4.42 seconds, 17.0 +/- 2.86 seconds, and 33.1 +/- 12.2 seconds, respectively; the control being 17.0 seconds. The differences between Groups A, B and C were insignificant. Group D babies had a significant prolongation of prothrombin time (p less than 0.001) as compared to the other groups. It is concluded that oral water soluble vitamin K at birth is as good as injectable vitamin K. It is a much simpler form of prophylaxis and avoids intramuscular injection.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bains
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dutta
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012995:Solubility; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014812:Vitamin K