Exclusively breastmilk-fed preterm infants are at high risk of developing subclinical vitamin K deficiency despite intramuscular prophylaxis at birth.

Clarke P, Shearer MJ, Card DJ, Nichols A, Ponnusamy V, Mahaveer A, Voong K, Dockery K, Holland N, Mulla S, Hall L, Maassen C, Lux P, Schurgers LJ, Harrington D. (2022)

Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH

There is near-global consensus that all newborns be given parenteral vitamin K1 (VK1 ) at birth as prophylaxis against VK deficiency bleeding (VKDB). Breastmilk has a low VK content and cases of late VKDB are reported in exclusively breastmilk-fed preterm infants despite VK prophylaxis at birth.

Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH

View Publication