Acarboxyprothrombin concentration [corrected] after oral prophylactic vitamin K.
The effect of prophylaxis with oral vitamin K (1 mg vitamin K1 given with the first feed) on the rate of detection of acarboxyprothrombin (PIVKA II) and factor II clotting concentration [corrected] were analysed. Introducing such prophylaxis reduced the rates of detection of PIVKA II concentration [corrected] on day 5 from 48% to zero. None of the babies given prophylaxis had factor II clotting  concentration [corrected] below 40%, compared with 34 of 95 babies not given prophylaxis. This study has important implications in the prophylaxis of both classical and late onset haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Düsseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany.
R
R
von Kries
S
S
Kreppel
A
A
Becker
R
R
Tangermann
U
U
Göbel
D000284:Administration, Oral; D015415:Biomarkers; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006475:Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / Q000517:prevention & control*
D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014812:Vitamin K; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin