Central Diabetes Insipidus Following Intracranial Hemorrhage Due To Vitamin K Deficiency in a Neonate

Abstract

A previously healthy 30-day-old girl presented with seizures, irritability and inability to sleep for three days. Vitamin K was not given just after birth. She was lethargic. A multifocal clonic seizure was evident during examination. Anisocoria was diagnosed on eye examination. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed intracerebral hemorrhage, ventricular dilatation, and hematoma in the left temporofrontal region extending to the hypothalamus. Central diabetes insipidus was diagnosed by water deprivation due to dehydration and hypernatremia, and then desmopressin was added to phenobarbital. The possible mechanism of central diabetes insipidus in our patient is damage of vasopressin pathway resulting from compression of hemorrhage. An operation of ventriculoperitoneal shunt was also performed due to hydrocephalus. While she was symptom-free except for neurological sequel during routine control examinations after discharging from hospital, the parents said that she died, most probably from bronchopneumonia, at the age of 7.5 months. In conclusion, we emphasize that prophylactic vitamin K should be administrated to all babies just after birth, and infants with intracranial hemorrhage should carefully be monitored for central diabetes insipidus.