Leukemia, menadione

Over the first 6 weeks of postnatal life, the plasma concentrations of clotting factors gradually rise to the adult level in the meantime, they are at risk of potentially fatal hemorrhage that was formerly called hemorrhagic disease of the newborn and is now known as vitamin K deficiency bleeding in infancy. It is usual to give all newborn infants prophylactic vitamin K, either orally or by intramuscular injection (Sutor et al., 1999). At one time, menadione was used, but, because of the association between menadione and childhood leukemia (Section 5.6.1), phylloquinone is preferred. 

Menadione prophylaxis against vitamin K deficiency bleeding in infancy (Section 5.4.1) has been associated with increased incidence of childhood leukemia and other cancers. 

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