Vitamin K status of preterm infants with a prolonged prothrombin time.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the vitamin K status of preterm infants who have a prolonged prothrombin time (PT) in the first month of life.


METHODS
Measures of vitamin K status were assessed in 21 preterm infants who were found to have an abnormal PT, despite 0.2-0.5 mg vitamin K(1) prophylaxis at birth.


RESULTS
All infants had normal or supraphysiological vitamin K(1) concentrations and undetectable or, in one infant, insignificant PIVKA-II, indicating adequate vitamin K status.


CONCLUSIONS
In preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation who received > or = 0.2 mg vitamin K(1) after delivery, a prolonged PT in the first month of life is unlikely to be due to vitamin K deficiency.
Clarke
Paul
P
Neonatal Unit, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK. paul.clarke@nnuh.nhs.uk
Mitchell
Simon J
SJ
Sundaram
Shanmuga
S
Sharma
Vibha
V
Wynn
Robert
R
Shearer
Martin J
MJ
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood; D011516:Prothrombin; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D010837:Vitamin K 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014815:Vitamins; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D010837:Vitamin K 1; D011516:Prothrombin