Vitamin K deficiency bleeding

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.