Intra-cranial hemorrhage in infants due to vitamin K deficiency - report of 2 cases

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Drive attention to the late form of the hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, secondary to vitamin K deficiency, as a cause of intracranial hemorrhage in young infants.METHODS: The authors describe and analyze two cases of late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, secondary to vitamin K deficiency, producing intracranially hemorrhage during the second month of age. The most important publications on this subject are reviewed.RESULTS: Both infants had not received prophylaxis with vitamin K at birth. They were both being fed exclusively on breast milk. They developed intracranial hemorrhage, and the clotting defect was rapidly corrected with intramuscular vitamin K. At 3 and 4 years of age, one of them has showed normal psychomotor development, and the other has showed moderate developmental delay with microcephaly.CONCLUSION: Late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn must be considered in young infants, between 2 and 12 weeks of age, with intracranial hemorrhage, especially those fed exclusively on breast milk who did not receive vitamin K at birth. It may produce neurodevelopmental delay. The clotting defect is rapidly corrected with intramuscular vitamin K. This condition is preventable. The prophylaxis is recommended with 1 mg of intramuscular vitamin K to all newborns, at birth, even without risk factors.