Routine use of daily oral vitamin K to treat infants with cystic fibrosis

Paediatr Respir Rev. 2015 Oct:16 Suppl 1:22-4. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2015.07.012. Epub 2015 Sep 26.

Abstract

Vitamin K is routinely administered after birth in the UK to prevent haemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Despite this, vitamin K-deficient coagulopathy still occurs in infants with high morbidity and mortality. Up to 50% of late onset bleeding presents with intracranial haemorrhage. The risk of developing vitamin K coagulopathy is higher in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) and those that are exclusively breast fed due to low vitamin K levels in breast milk and intestinal changes in bacterial flora. Oral vitamin K supplementation is a simple addition to routine CF treatment during infancy to prevent complications from significant coagulopathy.

Keywords: Cystic Fibrosis; Vitamin K.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications
  • Cystic Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / etiology
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vitamin K / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin K / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / complications
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / drug therapy*
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin K