Features of hemorrhagic disease in newborns

Hemorrhagic disorder of the newborn (or Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding, VKDB) is a pathological condition caused by a deficiency of vitamin K, which is necessary for the synthesis of blood clotting factors, in children aged 8 days to 6 months. Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding manifests as bleeding from various localizations. The late form of disease is typically diagnosed after the first week of life and can present as severe intracranial hemorrhages, which in turn can lead not only to residual neurological symptoms but also to fatal outcomes. This condition is observed in newborns who have not received prophylactic vitamin K administration at the delivery and are exclusively breastfed. This underscores the necessity for prevention, timely diagnosis, and treatment. Diagnosis is based on the medical history, clinical picture, and laboratory blood clotting analyses. The updated clinical recommendations for Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding prevention have been implemented globally and in Russia, but the concerns of management children with late form of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding are still relevant. This article presents three clinical cases of full-term infants with late forms of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding. They did not receive prophylactic vitamin K administration and were exclusively breastfed. Special attention is given to the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders associated with intracranial hemorrhage, as well as the importance of timely prevention to avoid complications.

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