Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency with fatal intracranial hemorrhage in a newborn

A 4-week-old boy had a fatal intracranial hemorrhage resulting from vitamin K deficiency. The infant had received no vitamin K prophylaxis and was exclusively breastfed. At autopsy, examination of the liver showed cholestasis and fibrosis. DNA was isolated from a blood spot on a Gutherie sample card obtained from the infant for routine metabolic screening. This DNA was used for alpha1-antitrypsin genotyping studies. Genotyping studies identified homozygosity for the point mutation 9989G-->A, confirming a diagnosis of alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (ZZ phenotype), and resulted in appropriate screening of siblings born after this child's death. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants with late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Use of blood from the metabolic screening card as a source of DNA allowed confirmation of this diagnosis after the infant's death.