| Vitamin K deficiency bleeding | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn |
 | |
| Vitamin K1 | |
| Specialty | Pediatrics  |
| Symptoms | Bleeding |
| Usual onset | Birth to 2 months of age |
| Types | Early, Classical, Late |
| Causes | Vitamin K deficiency |
| Prevention | Vitamin K supplementation after birth |
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) of the newborn, previously known as haemorrhagic disease of the newborn,[1] is a rare form of bleeding disorder that affects newborns and young infants due to low stores of vitamin K at birth.[2] It commonly presents with intracranial haemorrhage with the risk of brain damage or death.[3]
Newborn infants have low stores of vitamin K, and human breast milk has low concentrations of the vitamin. This combination can lead to vitamin K deficiency and later onset bleeding. Vitamin K deficiency leads to the risk of blood coagulation problems due to impaired production of clotting factors II, VII, IX, X, protein C and protein S by the liver. More rarely VKDB can be caused by maternal medicines causing vitamin K deficiency in the newborn.[2]
VKDB can largely be prevented by prophylactic supplementation of vitamin K, which is typically given shortly after birth by intramuscular injection. Most national health organisations recommend routine vitamin K supplementation after birth.[2] Widespread use of this has made this a rare disease.
- ^ Sutor, Anton; von Kries, Rüdiger; Cornelissen, Marlies; McNinch, Andrew; Andrew, Maureen (9 December 2017). "Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) in Infancy". Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 81 (3): 456–461. doi:10.1055/s-0037-1614494. S2CID 77702558.
- ^ a b c Shearer, Martin J. (March 2009). "Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in early infancy". Blood Reviews. 23 (2): 49–59. doi:10.1016/j.blre.2008.06.001. PMID 18804903.
- ^ Volpe, Joseph J (2017-10-06). Volpe's neurology of the newborn (Sixth ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-323-42876-7. Retrieved 9 March 2020.