Neonatal vitamin K deficiency

Definition

Early vitamin K–deficiency bleeding (VKDB) is secondary to low stores of vitamin K at birth due to the poor transfer of vitamin K across the placenta and inadequate intake during the first few days of life. In addition, there is no intestinal synthesis of vitamin K2 because the newborn gut is sterile. Early VKDB occurs mostly in breastfed infants due to the low vitamin K content of breast milk (formula is fortified). Delayed feeding is an additional risk factor. In late VKDB, almost all cases occur in breast-fed infants due to the low vitamin K content of breast milk. An additional risk factor is malabsorption of vitamin K, as occurs in children with undiagnosed cystic fibrosis or cholestatic liver disease (e.g., biliary atresia)

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