vitamin-k-semiquinone-radical and Respiratory-Distress-Syndrome--Newborn

To establish the effect of antenatal vitamin K on the incidence and severity of intraventricular hemorrhage, 92 patients destined to deliver infants less than 32 weeks' gestation were, in a prospective fashion, randomly assigned to two groups. Group I received 10 mg of vitamin K1 intramuscularly every 5 days until delivery. Group II received no antenatal vitamin K1 therapy. There were 100 neonates less than 1500 gm, equally divided between groups I and II with respect to gestational age, birth weight, race, sex, presentation, route of delivery, duration of labor, Apgar scores, and arterial umbilical cord acid-base balance. The antenatal use of vitamin K resulted in significant reduction in the prothrombin time (12.7 versus 15.2 seconds) and partial thromboplastin time (42.6 versus 58.9 seconds; p less than 0.05). Furthermore, group I experienced a lower incidence of total (16% versus 36%) and severe (0% versus 11%) grades of intraventricular hemorrhage (p less than 0.05). This study suggests that the antenatal use of vitamin K may result in a reduction and severity of intraventricular hemorrhage in the neonate less than 1500 gm.

Topics: Blood Coagulation; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Prospective Studies; Random Allocation; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Vitamin K

Although there are several reports of intracranial hemorrhage associated with vitamin K deficient bleeding, there are few reported cases of extracranial manifestations, specifically involving the thymus. Here, we discuss the unique case of a 4-week-old infant presenting with scrotal discoloration, respiratory distress, and widened mediastinum, found to have thymic hemorrhage related to confirmed coagulopathy secondary to late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding of the newborn.

Topics: Antifibrinolytic Agents; Contusions; Diagnosis, Differential; Genital Diseases, Male; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mediastinum; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Scrotum; Thymus Gland; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin K; Vitamin K Deficiency; Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding

Topics: Hemorrhagic Disorders; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Ultrasonography; Vitamin K; Vitamin K Deficiency

A case of severe neonatal sepsis due to intrauterine infection with Capnocytophaga ochracea, complicated by hypotension, renal failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation, is reported. The role of Capnocytophaga as an organism of increasing importance in intrauterine and peripartum infections is discussed.

Topics: Ampicillin; Bacteremia; Capnocytophaga; Chorioamnionitis; Dopamine; Female; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pulmonary Surfactants; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Tobramycin; Vitamin K

Topics: Catheters, Indwelling; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Infusions, Parenteral; Male; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Tolazoline; Umbilical Arteries; Vascular Diseases; Vitamin K

Topics: Bilirubin; Birth Weight; Contusions; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Infant, Newborn; Jaundice, Neonatal; Male; Phototherapy; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Temperature; Vitamin K

Topics: Age Factors; Blood Coagulation Factors; Capillaries; Central Nervous System Diseases; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Factor V; Factor VII; Factor X; Fibrinogen; Gestational Age; Hematocrit; Hemorrhage; Humans; Hyaline Membrane Disease; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Microchemistry; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Vitamin K

Topics: Birth Weight; Chlorpromazine; Humans; Hypothermia, Induced; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Israel; Prednisolone; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Vitamin K