PEDIATRICS Vol. 16 No. 3 September 1955, pp. 424
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Letters to the Editor

ELMER L. SEVERINGHAUS M.D.

A warning needs to be given pediatricians and obstetricians about using unduly large doses of any water soluble vitamin K preparation in premature infants. Communications appearing in Lancet report fatal hemolytic anemia occurring in two small series of infants. The vitamin K was given in one on more doses of 10 mg. to these premature infants. No evidence of blood group incompatibility or Rh factor problem was found.

A further report appeared in substantiation of the hemolytic effect of very large doses (100 mg./kg.) of water soluble vitamin K given to rats. This hemolysis occurred only in rats deprived of vitamin E. It is known that vitamin E deficiency in rats leads to abnormally great hemolytic tendency.