Supplementation of vitamin K in pregnant women receiving anticonvulsant therapy prevents neonatal vitamin K deficiency.
OBJECTIVE
The null hypothesis of this study is that extra vitamin K administered to pregnant women on a regimen of enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant therapy will not decrease the frequency of symptoms of vitamin K deficiency in their neonates.


METHODS
A multicenter case-control study was performed on 16 pregnant women on anticonvulsant therapy who received 10 mg of vitamin K1 daily from 36 weeks of pregnancy onward. Concentrations of PIVKA-II (protein induced by vitamin K absence for factor II) and of vitamin K1 were determined in cord blood and compared with those in 20 controls.


RESULTS
In none of 17 cord samples was PIVKA-II detectable, compared with 13 of 20 in controls (chi 2, p < 0.001). Median cord vitamin K1 level was 530 pg/ml compared with below detection limit in most controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Antenatal vitamin K1 treatment decreases the frequency of vitamin K deficiency in neonates of mothers on anticonvulsant therapy.
Cornelissen
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Steegers-Theunissen
R
R
Kollée
L
L
Eskes
T
T
Motohara
K
K
Monnens
L
L
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014812:Vitamin K; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin