Vitamin K prophylaxis in neonates: comparing two different oral regimens

Daijiro Takahashi; Naoki Egami; Masayuki Ochiai; Taeko Hotta; Shutaro Suga; Masataka Ishimura; Chiharu Kawaguchi; Takeshi Uchiumi; Toshiya Nishikubo; Keiji Nogami; Kei Goto; Shouichi Ohga

doi:10.1038/s41372-024-01981-9

Vitamin K prophylaxis in neonates: comparing two different oral regimens

J Perinatol. 2024 Apr 27. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01981-9. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neonatology, Fukuda Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
² Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
³ Research Center for Environment and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. ochiai.masayuki.855@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
⁴ Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, Yamatotakada Municipal Hospital, Nara, Japan.
⁷ Division of Neonatal Intensive Care, Center of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
⁹ Division of Pediatrics, Fukuda Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.

PMID: 38678081
DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01981-9

Abstract

Objective: This prospective study compared PIVKA-II and PT-INR levels in infants who received two vitamin K (VK) prophylactic regimens.

Methods: A single institution administered 119 healthy newborns 2 mg of VK syrup. Infants were assigned to a 3-time regimen (n = 56) with VK at birth, five days (5D), and 1-month-old (1 M), or a 13-time regimen (n = 63) with VK at birth, 5D, and then weekly for 11 weeks.

Results: The 13-time regimen significantly lowered PIVKA-II and reduced PT-INR at 1 M in both breastfed (PIVKA-II: 18-16 mAU/mL, p = 0.02; PT-INR: 1.37-1.13, p < 0.01) and formula-fed infants (PIVKA-II: 18-15 mAU/mL, p = 0.01; PT-INR: 1.54-1.24, p < 0.01), compared to baseline measurements taken at 5D. The 3-time regimen did not significantly alter PIVKA-II levels and only improved PT-INR (2.00-1.50, p < 0.01) in formula-fed infants.

Conclusion: The 13-time VK regimen significantly enhanced coagulation profiles more effectively than the 3-time regimen.

Abstract

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