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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding after intramuscular prophylaxis at birth: a case report

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Abstract

We report the case of a 6-week-old female who presented an intracranial hemorrhage due to late vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). No other evident bleeding sites were present at the moment of diagnosis. Intramuscular vitamin K (1 mg) was administered at birth. She was exclusively breast-fed. No other risk factors for VKDB were detected. Low levels of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors and their normalization after vitamin K administration confirmed the diagnosis of late VKDB. The present case suggests potential risks related to a single dose of intramuscular vitamin K at birth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    M Ciantelli, L Bartalena, M Bernardini, P Biver, F Chesi, A Boldrini & E Sigali

Authors
  1. M Ciantelli
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  2. L Bartalena
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  3. M Bernardini
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  4. P Biver
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  5. F Chesi
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  6. A Boldrini
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  7. E Sigali
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Correspondence to M Ciantelli.

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Ciantelli, M., Bartalena, L., Bernardini, M. et al. Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding after intramuscular prophylaxis at birth: a case report. J Perinatol 29, 168–169 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.131

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.131

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