Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1998;36:17-19; doi:10.1136/dtb.1998.36317
Copyright © 1998 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

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Which vitamin K preparation for the newborn?

Relevant BNF section: 9.6.6

Newborn babies are at risk of bleeding as a result of vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K supplements given at birth reduce this risk but it is not clear which preparation should be used. Until the early 1990s, it was standard practice to give vitamin K as a single intramuscular injection at birth (Konakion Ampoules 1mg/0.5ml - Roche). Studies published in 1990¹ and 1992² suggested a possible link between intramuscular vitamin K injection and childhood cancers, particularly leukaemias. Our response was to recommend that vitamin K injection be given orally (not then a licensed route) until a licensed oral preparation became available.³ Such a preparation is now marketed as Konakion MM Paediatric (Roche). In addition, the suggested association between intramuscular vitamin K and cancer has been further investigated. In this article, we update our advice.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				U. Wariyar, S. Hilton, J. Pagan, W. Tin, and E. Hey Six years' experience of prophylactic oral vitamin K Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., January 1, 2000; 82(1): 64F - 68. [Abstract] [Full Text]