Vitamin K for neonates: the controversy

BMJ 1994;308:867-868 (2 April)

Editorials

Vitamin K for neonates: the controversy

Giving neonates vitamin K to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding(a more informative and accurate term than the venerable "haemorrhagicdisease of the newborn") has been controversial almost sinceit began. In the 1950s synthetic menadione (Synkavit, Roche),commonly used in doses of 30 mg or more,¹ was linked with haemolysisin premature babies² and with kernicterus.³ In the 1960s and1970s, when intramuscular phytomenadione (Konakion, Roche) 1mg was the standard prophylaxis in Britain, there was argumentover whether it should be given selectively or to all babies.⁴In the 1980s some babies mistakenly received the injection ofergometrine-oxytocin meant for their mothers with disastrousresults,⁵ and there was debate about whether a single oral doseof vitamin K could give the same protection as an intramusculardose.⁶ In the early 1990s cases of vitamin K deficiency bleedingwere described in babies who had received a single oral dose. . . [Full text of this article]

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