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Vitamin K status of preterm infants with a prolonged prothrombin time
Author(s) -
Clarke Paul,
Mitchell Simon J,
Sundaram Shanmuga,
Sharma Vibha,
Wynn Robert,
Shearer Martin J
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb01859.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prothrombin time , vitamin k , pediatrics , vitamin
Aim: To investigate the vitamin K status of preterm infants who have a prolonged prothrombin time (PT) in the first month of life. Methods: Measures of vitamin K status were assessed in 21 preterm infants who were found to have an abnormal PT, despite 0.2–0.5 mg vitamin K 1 prophylaxis at birth. Results: All infants had normal or supraphysiological vitamin K 1 concentrations and undetectable or, in one infant, insignificant PIVKA‐II, indicating adequate vitamin K status. Conclusion: In preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation who received 0.2 mg vitamin K 1 after delivery, a prolonged PT in the first month of life is unlikely to be due to vitamin K deficiency.