MUTAGENECITY OF PROPHYLACTICALLY ADMINISTERED VITAMIN K TO NEWBORN INFANTS

Abstract

Newborn babies are born vitamin K deficient; however, the deficiency is not sufficiently severe to cause a vitamin K deficiency coagulopathy and hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN).

Classic and L- HDN are prevented by the i.m administration of vitamin Kat birth.Oral prophylaxis prevents C-HDN, but is ineffective in preventing L-HDN.

Despite proven effectiveness of i.m. vitamin K prophylaxis , there have been concerns about the need for, and safety of, this theraby.

Hence, the aim of the present study was to delineate the possibility of a link between i.m administration of vitamin K prophylaxis at birth and chromosomal aberrations or cytogenetic toxicity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of NBs.