Early Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in a Neonate Associated with Maternal Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare but potentially fatal condition occurring in the third trimester or early postpartum period. It is characterized by microvesicular fatty infiltration of the liver. Clinically, the three most prominent derangements in women with AFLP are hepatic dysfunction, renal insufficiency, and impaired coagulation. AFLP is associated with an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality in neonates, though the exact cause for this remains unclear. Deficiency of vitamin K in patients with liver disease has been widely reported.

Case Description We present a unique case of severe intracranial bleeding because of the early vitamin K deficiency in a neonate whose mother had AFLP along with accompanying renal insufficiency.

Conclusion We suggest that monitoring infants born to mothers with AFLP, for vitamin K deficiency bleeding will help reduce morbidity and mortality in these infants.

Keywords

acute fatty liver of pregnancy - vitamin K–deficiency bleeding - hepatic dysfunction - intracranial bleeding

An African American male infant was born via emergency cesarean delivery for prolapsed cord at 33 weeks' gestation to a 22-year-old primigravida female with negative serologies (Hepatitis B, Syphilis, and HIV) and unknown Group B Streptococcus status with no treatment. She presented with a 3-week history of nausea and vomiting. She was diagnosed with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 393 units/L (range, 13–40 units/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 429 units/L (range, 9–51 units/L), unconjugated bilirubin 2.5 mg/dL (range, 0.1–1.1 mg/dL), prothrombin time (PT) 14.4 seconds (range, 12–14.7 seconds), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) 25 seconds (range, 23–38 seconds) and fibrinogen of 721 mg/dL (range, 214–470 mg/dL) along with accompanying renal insufficiency creatinine 4.2 mg/dL (range, 0.50–1.04 mg/dL). Following delivery, the mother's liver function, renal function, and coagulation studies gradually improved and she was discharged 4 days following her delivery without any long-term adverse outcomes.

The infant had heart rate decelerations before birth and had respiratory depression, weak reflex response, low tone, and heart rate < 60 beats/minute at birth. Initiation of bag mask ventilation resulted in improved heart rate (> 100 beats/minute) and color. The baby continued to have poor respiratory effort at 2 to 3 minutes and required intubation and mechanical ventilation. The Apgar scores were 1, 6, and 7 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively. The baby weighed 1,630 g at birth which was appropriate for his gestational age.

In the neonatal intensive care unit, the baby showed continued bleeding from the venipuncture site. Coagulation studies showed elevated PT 98.5 seconds (range, 12–14.7 seconds), aPTT 104 seconds (range, 23–38 seconds) and slightly low fibrinogen 184 mg/dL (range, 214–470 mg/dL). A complete blood count showed significantly low hemoglobin 9.9 g/dL (range, 9.5–13.5 g/dL) and hematocrit 29.6% (range, 29–41%) and platelets were 174 × 10³/mm³ (150–328 × 10³/mm³). Liver function tests at 7 hours of life showed a slightly elevated AST at 65 units/L but was otherwise normal—ALT 24 units/L, alkaline phosphatase 160 units/L, albumin 2.7 g/dL (range, 3.5–5 g/dL), total protein 4.4 g/dL (range, 4.6–7.3 g/dL), total bilirubin 3.1 mg/dL, and unconjugated bilirubin 2.7 mg/dL. A blood culture was also obtained before starting empiric antibiotics, which was negative. The baby received a routine 1 mg dose of vitamin K intramuscularly following which coagulation panel was repeated which showed PT of 58 seconds and aPTT of 104 seconds. The baby also received a 20 mL/kg packed red blood cell transfusion following which the repeat hemoglobin and hematocrit improved to 14.2 g/dL and 40.3%. The baby had seizure activity which was confirmed on electroencephalography and treated with phenobarbital and fosphenytoin. A computerized tomography scan of the head in the first 24 hours following birth showed a grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage with subdural bleeding ([Fig. 1)]. Baby had normal factor 8 levels of 2.12 units/mL (range, 0.47–1.70 units/mL) and slightly low factor 9 of 0.06 units/mL (range, 0.76–1.58 units/mL), and 10 levels of 0.17 units/mL (range, 0.76–1.49 units/mL) not consistent with hemophilia. The baby was given a 5 mg/kg dose of vitamin K intravenously which resulted in the prompt normalization of the coagulation studies PT 21.3 seconds/aPTT 46 seconds and fibrinogen 302 mL/dL and the bleeding from puncture sites resolved which is consistent with the diagnosis of early vitamin K–deficiency bleeding (VKDB).

Fig. 1 Computerized tomography scan of at 24 hours of life showing diffuse cerebral edema, subdural collection on the left, midline shift, and blood in both occipital horns.

A repeat computerized tomography scan at 40 weeks of age showed markedly enlarged lateral ventricles secondary to loss of brain parenchyma and severe encephaomalacia ([Fig. 2]). At the follow-up visits, the child was found to have global developmental delays with feeding intolerance which required a Nissen's fundoplication and G-tube placement. The infant continues to be followed by our neonatal follow-up clinic and has not had any other concerns with regards to bleeding till date.

Fig. 2 Computerized tomography scan of the head at 40 weeks showing markedly enlarged lateral ventricles secondary to loss of brain parenchyma and severe encephalomalacia.

Discussion

Even though there was an extensive body of work on the relationship between bleeding in newborns and vitamin K earlier, the disease was seen infrequently. With the increased push toward exclusive breast feeding, it started appearing more and more. This was evidenced by the 1983 Lancet article “Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn returns.”[1]

Over the past few years, the term “Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn” has been replaced by “Vitamin K–deficiency bleeding” because there are other etiologies of bleeding in the newborn and VKDB can often present after 4 weeks.

Today, it is the standard of care around the world to provide vitamin K supplementation to the newborn at birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorses universal supplementation with a single intramuscular dose (range, 0.5–1 mg) of vitamin K within 1 hour of birth.[2]

Like vaccinations, parenteral vitamin K was also met with opposition from parents early on, especially because of an unproven assumption that older phenol containing preparations of vitamin K were associated with childhood cancer (leukemia) later in life. This even led to some countries adopting oral administration of vitamin K to newborns. But increased incidences of late type bleeding has led to oral vitamin K falling out of favor. In fact, no oral preparations of vitamin K are licensed for use in the United States. Also, the newer formulation of vitamin K is solubilized in natural components (glycocholic acid and phosphatidylcholine) which has improved the safety profile and has a much lower risk of serious anaphylactoid reactions.[3]

Vitamin K is an essential lipid soluble vitamin which is involved in the gamma carboxylation of glutamate residues which are found in coagulation proteins (factors II, VII, IX, and X and protein C, S, and Z). VKDB is defined as bleeding because of the deficiency of vitamin K–dependent clotting factors. It presents initially as ecchymosis, petechia, easy bruisability, or spontaneous bleeding from mucosal sites. However, it is most often discovered because of the presence of continued bleeding from venipuncture and circumcision sites or from the cut umbilical cord. A prolonged PT with normal fibrinogen levels and platelet count is diagnostic of VKDB and a rapid correction of PT with cessation of bleeding after vitamin K administration is confirmative. Overall, 30 to 60% cases of VKDB are associated with intracranial hemorrhages[4] which is why early identification and treatment is essential. Elalfy et al in 2014 found that all 21 infants with intracranial hemorrhage in the neonatal period in their study were found to have significant vitamin K deficiency. They also found that administering vitamin K to these patients corrected their PT and PTT values within 48 hours and highly significant negative correlation was found between serum vitamin K levels and PT and PTT values. Also, the most prevalent site of bleeding in these infants was subdural hemorrhage.[5]

VKDB is classified based on the age of onset as: early (< 24 hours after birth); classic (1–7 days after birth), and late (1 week to 6 months after birth). The etiology of VKDB is either idiopathic or secondary.

Most cases of early VKDB are attributable to drugs taken by the mother during pregnancy. These medications include anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin, and barbiturates), antibiotics (cephalosporin), antitubercular drugs (rifampin and isoniazid) and vitamin K antagonists (coumarin).[6] However, the mother, in the case we are reporting, was not on any of these medications.

AFLP is a rare but serious condition. It is characterized by microvesicular fatty infiltration of the liver. The condition is associated with an inherited deficiency of a mitochondrial enzyme—long chain 3-hydroxyacetyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase (LCHAD) but other enzymes have been implicated as well. The infant in our case had normal results for LCHAD on newborn screening. The diagnosis of AFLP can be made by using the Swansea Criteria. Clinically, the three most prominent derangements in women with AFLP are hepatic dysfunction, renal insufficiency, and impaired synthesis of procoagulants.[7] AFLP is associated with an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality in neonates.

It also is important to differentiate AFLP from the more commonly seen HELLP syndrome. Liver failure and the accompanying complications such as decreased procoagulant synthesis are rarely found in HELLP syndrome and are essential for the diagnosis of AFLP. Elevated serum creatinine values are also more commonly associated with AFLP. Pathogenesis of acute renal failure in AFLP is not well understood.[8]

Deficiency of vitamin K in patients with liver disease has been widely reported. In fact, vitamin K repletion is a commonly used procoagulant strategy in these patients. Importantly, prothrombin time is a late indicator of vitamin K deficiency and can be normal even when prothrombin concentrations fall to half normal values.[9] This explains the normal maternal PT even in the presence subclinical vitamin K deficiency. While the water soluble vitamins are actively transported across the placenta, the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are transferred to the fetus by facilitated diffusion, at a much slower rate.[10] So, maternal conditions causing sub clinical vitamin deficiencies will result in overt symptoms in the neonate.

In the past, the neonatal mortality rate had been estimated to be as high as 85%; however, with prompt recognition and treatment, the mortality rate has dramatically decreased to approximately 23%.[11] We suggest to monitor infants born to mothers with AFLP for possible VKDB as prompt management will help avoid devastating intracranial bleeding and reduce long-term morbidities.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

• References

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