Evidence against vitamin K deficiency in normal neonates

Umbilical cord plasmas from 24 normal full-term neonates were studied. We confirmed the prolonged prothrombin time and low levels of Vitamin K dependent clotting factors previously described (1), but using a number of recently developed immunological and coagulation techniques we could find no evidence of vitamin K deficiency. We conclude that the decreased levels of vitamin K dependent clotting factors of normal neonates are the result of decreased synthesis by the immature liver and that it is questionable whether vitamin K prophylaxis is necessary for these infants.