Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) Cause Type Clinical features Investigation Management Prevention


Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)



Neonatal bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency.
K dependent clotting factors are- II, VII, IX, X.








Types of Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).


Early HDN- occurs within first 24 hours of birth. Most common causes are maternal drug effect.

Classical HDN- occurs at 2-7 days of age. Most common in term baby.

Late HDN- occurs between 2 weeks – 6 months of age. Causes of late HDN are undiagnosed hepatobiliary disease (hepatitis, biliary atresia, cystic fibrosis), use of broad spectrum antibiotics.

Clinical feature of Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).


- bleeding from all orifices.
- Healthy baby.
- Usually male child.
- Umbilical bleeding.
- Per rectal bleeding.
- Bloody vomiting.
- Nose bleeding.
- Per vaginal bleeding.
- Hematuria.


D/D of Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).


- Hemophilia.
- DIC.
- Swallowed maternal blood.


Investigations of Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).


- CBC with CPBF.
- Bleeding time- normal.
- Clotting time- prolonged.
- Platelet count.
- PT- prolonged.
- APTT - prolonged.
- Thrombin time.
-Factor VIII assay.
- Apt test.
- Factors II, VII, IX, and X (Thrombo test) are significantly reduced.

Vitamin K facilitates post-transcriptional carboxylation of factors II, VII, IX, and X. In the absence of carboxylation, such factors form PIVKA (protein induced in vitamin K absence), which is a sensitive marker for vitamin K status. The platelet level is normal.

Treatment of Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).


a. Vitamin K1 1-5 mg. IM or IV single dose.

If there is active bleeding or PT is greatly prolonged, give FFP 10 ml/kg with an IV dose of 1 mg of vitamin K.

b. In cases where blood loss is severe and sudden, transfusion of fresh blood (20 ml/kg) is life-saving.
c. Vitamin K1, 1 mg/week for the first 3 months of life, may prevent late onset hemorrhagic disease of newborn.

Prevention of Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).


a. Prophylactic vitamin K1, 2 mg orally at 4 hours, 4th day and 4th week of life.
b. If the mother has been treated with phenytoin, phenobarbitone, INH orri fampicin, mother should be given, vitamin K1 10-20 mg IM 24 hours prior to delivery.
c. The baby should be given one dose of vitamin K1, 1 mg at birth and repeated
after 24 hours.

Causes of Bleeding in Children.

A. In neonates

a. If baby is sick- 

Menomic- senadol

 Septicemia  NEC
  DIC
  Liver disease

b. If baby is healthy-

Menomic- HEAVY HAPPY.

  HDN
 Von willebrand disease 
 Hemophilia
  Platelet disorder
  swallowed maternal blood

B. In older children-

Menomic- HE IS NIRAB

- HDN.
- hemophilia.
- HSP.
- HUS.
- hemorrhoid.
- Esophageal varices.
- Intussusception.
- Shigellosis.
- Nasal bleeding
- Intestinal bleeding- 
   - IBD.
   - meckel;s diverticulam.
   - Mallory Weiss syndrome.
- Rectal polyp.
- Anal fissure.
- Bleeding peptic ulcer.