Bleeding diathesis due to vitamin K deficiency in an infant with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

With the wide implementation of newborn screening for Cystic Fibrosis, infants are being diagnosed in the presymptomatic phase of the disease. Nutritional deficiencies (hypoalbuminemia) and fat soluble vitamins A, D and E deficiencies, due to pancreatic insufficiency and malabsorption, have been reported in the past at the time of diagnosis.1, 2 Rarely, infants with CF present with severe bleeding disorder, secondary to vitamin K deficiency, in the first months of life.³ To our knowledge, this is the first case report illustrating bleeding diathesis in a one month old infant with CF. He was diagnosed by newborn screening and presented with a gastrointestinal bleeding due to vitamin K deficient coagulopathy.