Prenatal vitamin K1 administration in epileptic women to prevent neonatal hemorrhage: Is it fffective?

OBJECTIVE: To summarize current knowledge on whether prenatal prophylactic vitamin K1 administration to epileptic women receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to prevent neonatal hemorrhage is effective. STUDY DESIGN: A computerized MEDLINE search was conducted using the terms antiepileptic drug, hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, pregnancy and vitamin K since 1966 to July 2004, limited only to human studies. English-language publications were selected based on their relevance to the clinical effectiveness of administration of oral vitamin K to epileptic women exposed to enzyme-inducing AEDs for prevention of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN). RESULTS: No randomized, controlled trial testing prenatal vitamin K1 administration for reducing the incidence or severity of neonatal hemorrhage was identified. This review summarizes the data from published observational studies. CONCLUSION: There is inadequate evidence to recommend the routine administration of prenatal vitamin K to epileptic women exposed to enzyme-inducing AED therapy in order to prevent HDN.