Evidence of vitamin K deficiency in cord blood

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1993:24 Suppl 1:116-20.

Abstract

The prevalence of vitamin K deficiency in the newborns delivered at Siriraj Hospital was studied. The prolongation of one stage prothrombin time and the presence of PIVKA-II (non carboxylated prothrombin antigen) in cord blood were interpreted as the secondary change from vitamin K deficiency state. The most reliable method to diagnose vitamin K deficiency is the detection of vitamin K level in plasma which is not yet available in Thailand. Although the prevalence of vitamin K deficiency in the newborns from our data is not high, only 0.6%, it is shown that some of the apparently normal newborn infants may have bleeding problem from vitamin K deficiency in both newborn and early infancy periods. So, the correction of this deficiency by administration of vitamin K to all newborns is appropriate and reasonable decision.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers*
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / analysis
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry*
  • Fetal Blood / immunology
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prevalence
  • Protein Precursors / analysis
  • Prothrombin / analysis
  • Prothrombin Time
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thailand
  • Vitamin K / analysis*
  • Vitamin K / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / blood*
  • Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / drug therapy
  • Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / immunology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Protein Precursors
  • Vitamin K
  • acarboxyprothrombin
  • Prothrombin