[Vitamin K deficiency bleeding in an infant despite adequate prophylaxis].
Vitamin K deficiency in infants can cause life-threatening haemorrhages. To prevent this, neonates in the Netherlands receive an oral dose of 1 mg vitamin K directly after birth. In addition, because breast milk contains little vitamin K, breast-fed infants receive a daily dose of 25 micrograms the first three months. Of three female infants aged 4 weeks, 5 months and 3 months, respectively, two developed an intracranial haemorrhage, which caused death in one. In two cases there were signs of a bleeding tendency, but no tests were done because the patients appeared healthy otherwise. The underlying resorptive disorders, cholestasis and fat malabsorption, caused few symptoms and were discovered only after a vitamin K deficiency bleeding had occurred. In an infant with a bleeding tendency, one should consider the possibility of vitamin K deficiency, even if adequate prophylaxis has been given.
van Hasselt
P M
PM
Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht. p.vanhasselt@wkz.azu.nl
Houwen
R H J
RH
van Dijk
A T H
AT
de Koning
T J
TJ
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008052:Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000150:complications; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D006475:Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014812:Vitamin K