Vitamin K prior to preterm birth for preventing neonatal periventricular haemorrhage.
BACKGROUND
Preterm infants are at risk of periventricular haemorrhage. This can be a sign of brain damage that might lead to neurodevelopmental abnormalities, including cerebral palsy. It has been suggested that vitamin K might improve coagulation in preterm infants and thereby decrease the risk of periventricular haemorrhage.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this review was to assess the effects of vitamin K administered to women at risk of imminent very preterm birth to prevent periventricular haemorrhage and associated neurological injury in the infant.


METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 March 2008).


METHODS
Randomised or quasi-randomised trials of vitamin K administered parenterally or orally to women at risk of imminent preterm birth. The primary outcomes were neonatal mortality, neonatal neurological morbidity, as measured by the presence of periventricular haemorrhage (PVH) on ultrasound during the first week of life, and long-term neurodevelopment. Secondary outcomes included other neonatal morbidity and any maternal side effects.


METHODS
Two review authors independently assessed eligibility, trial quality and extracted data.


RESULTS
Seven trials were included, involving 607 women. The trials were of variable quality. Antenatal vitamin K was associated with a non-significant reduction in all grades of periventricular haemorrhage (risk ratio (RR) 0.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54 to 1.06) and a significant reduction in severe PVH (grades 3 and 4) (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.91) for babies receiving prenatal vitamin K compared with control babies. When the two quasi-randomised trials were excluded, antenatal vitamin K was associated with a non-significant reduction in all grades of PVH (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.60 to 1.26) and a non-significant reduction in severe PVH (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.49 to 1.36).There was an unfavourable effect of vitamin K on development as measured by the Bayley Mental Development Index at two years of age, however these results are derived from one trial with many participants lost to follow up. No difference was found in the incidence of other neurodevelopmental abnormalities at paediatric follow up at 18 to 24 months or seven years of age between children born to mothers given vitamin K and children not so exposed.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin K administered to women prior to very preterm birth has not been shown to significantly prevent periventricular haemorrhages in preterm infants or improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood.
Crowther
Caroline A
CA
ARCH: Australian Research Centre for Health of Women and Babies, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5006.
Crosby
Danielle D
DD
Henderson-Smart
David J
DJ
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014812:Vitamin K