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Twenty-seven years of experience with oral vitamin K1 therapy in neonates

F I Clark1, E J James

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|August 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Oral vitamin K prophylaxis for newborns has been administered since 1967. This study found no cases of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn or intracranial hemorrhage in infants receiving oral vitamin K.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Hematology

Background:

  • Since 1967, the University of Missouri has administered oral vitamin K prophylaxis to healthy term infants.
  • Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) is a serious concern in newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral vitamin K prophylaxis in preventing hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study design was employed.
  • Data were collected from three separate databases.
  • Infants receiving single oral doses of vitamin K were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • No instances of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn were identified in the study population.
  • No cases of unexplained intracranial hemorrhage were found in infants who received oral vitamin K.
  • The study confirmed the absence of these adverse events in the analyzed cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Oral vitamin K prophylaxis is an effective method for preventing hemorrhagic disease of the newborn and intracranial hemorrhage.
  • The University of Missouri has successfully provided appropriate care through its vitamin K prophylaxis protocol.

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