title: Intracranial hemorrhage due to vitamin K deficiency after the newborn period.
abstract: This study presents clinical and laboratory findings and outcome of infants with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) due to vitamin K deficiency after the newborn period, and evaluates vitamin K prophylaxis. The hospital records of 19 infants with a diagnosis of ICH due to vitamin K deficiency after the newborn period, seen in our clinic in less than 4 years, were retrospectively evaluated. The mean age at onset of the symptoms was 49 +/- 18 days. The most frequent presenting complaints were convulsion (58%), vomiting (47%), and irritability (47%). The most frequent examination findings were coma (74%), fontanel bulging (68%), and absence of pupil reaction (42%). The localizations of the ICHs were as follows: parenchymal (47%), subarachnoid (47%), subdural (42%), and intraventricular (26%). Four patients had used antibiotics and 1 patient had suffered diarrhea before the onset of the symptoms. One patient had a mild hepatic dysfunction that resolved spontaneously in a few weeks and its cause was not found. Mortality was observed in 6 (32%) patients. Ten patients were followed up for a mean period of 26.9 +/- 22.6 months. The follow-up findings were developmental delay (40%), microcephaly (30%), epilepsy (30%), blindness (20%), strabismus (20%), spastic tetraparesis (10%), spastic hemiparesis (10%), growth retardation (10%), and hydrocephaly (10%). Three (30%) patients remained neurologically normal. Vitamin K deficiency leads to death and neurological defects. Vitamin K prophylaxis at birth is therefore a priority. In this series, hepatic dysfunction had been detected in only 1 patient. The authors speculate that additional vitamin K to breast-fed infants with liver problem, antibiotic use, diarrhea, etc., should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Cagri Tip Merkezi, Elazig, Turkey. kaandemiroren@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demirören
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: Lokman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cam
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000150:complications*