Effect of oral or intramuscular vitamin K and feeding modality on coagulation factors in neonates under 60 days of age

Background: Neonates oil exclusive breast feeding that do)tot receive vitam in K tit birth are tit higher risk hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Aim: To compare the effect of oral or intramuscular administration of vitamin K 1 (VK1), oil clotting factors II, VII, IX, X and PIVKA II, in children unti l the 60 days of age with exclusive breast feeding or mixed feeding. Patien ts and methods: Forty healthy full term infants, distributed in two groups, A: 20 with mixed feeding (formula feeding and breast feeding) and B: 20 wi th exclusive breast feeding, were studied. Nine infarcts of each group rece ived 1 mg of VK1 intramuscularly and eleven 2 rug VK orally. 5 ml of cord b lood teas collected initially from each infant. Venous blood samples were t aken oil 15, 30 and 60 dues of age. Results: All factors increased in a pro gressive form reaching levels over 50% at 60 clays of age, in both groups. PIVKA II decreased significantly during the study period (p < 0.01). Factor II increased inure in children with mixed feeding that received intramuscu lar vitamin K, than in the rest of study, groups. No other differences betw een groups were observed. No infant had arc abnormal bleeding doting the st udy period. Conclusions: Oral administration of vitamin K is (is effective as the intramuscular route in the prevention of the hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.