J Nepal Health Res Counc 2017 Jan;15(35):81-84

Department of Radiology and Imaging, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Chondrodysplasia punctata is abnormal calcification in the cartilage of developing bones and has been seen in association with deranged vitamin K metabolism. Warfarin, an oral anticoagulant acting on vitamin K dependent clotting factors is known to cause chondrodysplasia punctata. Despite the knowledge of the condition the management of patients with prosthetic heart valves might require use of the drug for anticoagulation. Read More

Case Rep Obstet Gynecol 2017 7;2017:5646247. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is seldom associated with significant vitamin K deficiency. We report a case of a 16-year-old primigravid patient at 24 weeks and 3 days of gestation who presented with pruritus, hematuria, and preterm labor. Laboratory work-up showed severe coagulopathy with Prothrombin Time (PT) of 117. Read More

BMC Nephrol 2017 Jun 7;18(1):191. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Head of the Nephrology Department, Hôtel Dieu de France, Beirut. Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.

Background: Vascular calcifications are highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. Dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) was found to increase in vitamin K-deficient patients and may be associated with vascular calcifications. Supplementation of hemodialysis patients with vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) has been studied in Europe with a maximum 61% drop of dp-ucMGP levels. Read More

Anaesthesist 2017 Jun 2. Epub 2017 Jun 2.

I. Klinik für Kinder und Jugendliche, Klinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Deutschland.

This article presents the case of a 6-week-old infant who, despite oral vitamin K prophylaxis and otherwise normal developmental progress, suffered a severe intracerebral and subdural hemorrhage, which required surgical evacuation. The interdisciplinary approach is described with emphasis on the management of hemostasis. Furthermore, the clinical picture of intracranial bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency, which is nowadays rare in the Western World, is described in the anesthesiology literature for the first time. Read More

J Phys Ther Sci 2017 Apr 20;29(4):763-766. Epub 2017 Apr 20.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Acıbadem University School of Medicine, Turkey.

[Purpose] To report an adolescent male basketball player with nonhealing stress fractures of the foot and discuss the probable factors. [Subject and Methods] A 13-year-old basketball player presented with right foot pain. He had been playing basketball for three years and practicing 5 days/week. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2017 May 8. Epub 2017 May 8.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan.

BMC Nephrol 2017 May 2;18(1):149. Epub 2017 May 2.

Department of Nephrology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Vascular calcification is a major contributing factor to mortality in end stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite the efficacy of phosphate binders to improve hyperphosphatemia, data on vascular calcification are less clear. There seems to be a difference in attenuation or delay in progression between different binders. Read More

JMIR Med Educ 2017 Apr 18;3(1):e6. Epub 2017 Apr 18.

Novo Nordisk Inc., Plainsboro, NJ, United States.

Background: Patients with coagulation disorders may present to a variety of physician specialties; however, accurate and efficient diagnosis can be challenging for physicians not specialized in hematology, due to identified gaps in knowledge around appropriate laboratory assays and interpretation of test results. Coags Uncomplicated was developed to fill this unmet educational need by increasing practical knowledge of coagulation disorders among nonexpert physicians and other health care professionals (HCPs) in a point-of-care (POC) setting.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess patterns of use of the mobile app Coags Uncomplicated, a tool designed to support education regarding accurate and efficient diagnosis of bleeding disorders. Read More

Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2017 Apr 13. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China.

Vitamin K1 injection induces severe dose-related anaphylactoid reactions and overdose for the treatment of vitamin K deficiency. We aimed to find an optimal and small dose of vitamin K1 injection to treat vitamin K deficiency and avoid anaphylactoid reactions in animal. Rats were administered a vitamin K-deficient diet and gentamicin to establish vitamin K deficiency model. Read More

Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2017 Jul;26(4):276-281

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Calciphylaxis remains a poorly understood vascular calcification disorder with predilection for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Recent data from large patient registries and databases have begun to provide information regarding incidence, risk factors, and outcomes in patients with calciphylaxis.

Recent Findings: The most recent estimate places the incidence of calciphylaxis at 3. Read More

J Am Soc Nephrol 2017 Jun 3;28(6):1667-1668. Epub 2017 Apr 3.

Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany.

Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2017 Jul 20;77(4):267-274. Epub 2017 Mar 20.

a Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Institution of Clinical Science Lund, Medical Faculty , Lund University , Lund , Sweden.

Vitamin K is known for supporting the carboxylation of hepatic coagulation proteins. Levels of proteins induced by vitamin K absence for factor II (PIVKA-II) reflect hypocarboxylated prothrombin and can be used to detect subclinical vitamin K deficiency. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of perioperative subclinical vitamin K deficiency among neurosurgical patients using PIVKA-II and investigate the existence of any correlation to standard coagulation assays. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2017 14;2017:9035193. Epub 2017 Feb 14.

Division of Nephrology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.

The high prevalence of arterial calcification in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is far beyond the explanation by common cardiovascular risk factors such as aging, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The finding relies on the fact that vascular and valvular calcifications are predictors of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in persons with chronic renal failure. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and blood pressure control, other ESRD-related risks such as phosphate retention, excess calcium, and prolonged dialysis time also contribute to the development of vascular calcification. Read More

Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2017 May 10;21(5):292-297. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

1 Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University , Eskisehir, Turkey .

Background: Essential hypertension (EH) is defined as a worldwide public health problem and one of the important risk factors for development of human coronary artery disease. Increased peripheral arterial resistance is one of the distinguishing characteristics of EH. The extracellular deposition of calcium in the arterial wall is defined as vascular calcification, which results in aortic stiffness and elevation of blood pressure. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2017 May 9;176(5):581-589. Epub 2017 Mar 9.

Department of Neonatology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) in neonates and infants, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on current evidence. Quality of studies was assessed by Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. For dichotomous data, we obtained the number of events and total number and calculated the relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Read More

Case Rep Pediatr 2017 9;2017:7628946. Epub 2017 Feb 9.

School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.

We report a case of a 1-month-old infant with spontaneous thymic hemorrhage secondary to severe vitamin K deficiency. He was brought to medical attention due to scrotal bruising and during evaluation was noted to be tachypneic and hypoxemic. Chest X-ray revealed an enlarged cardiothymic silhouette, and a follow-up echocardiogram revealed a mass in the anterior mediastinum. Read More

Acad Pediatr 2017 May - Jun;17(4):368-373. Epub 2017 Mar 9.

Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.

Objective: To survey newborn clinicians in the United States regarding the frequency of intramuscular (IM) vitamin K refusal by a parent, reasons for refusal, and approaches of clinicians to refusals.

Methods: An electronic survey was administered to the clinician site representative (nursery director or designee knowledgeable about site-specific nursery policies) at all newborn nurseries in the Better Outcomes through Research for Newborns (BORN) network of newborn nurseries.

Results: Of 92 BORN sites, 85 (92%) respondents completed the survey. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2017 Feb 21. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

From the *Department of Pediatrics and †Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

Vitamin K plays an integral role in the clotting cascade. Deficiency, specifically in vulnerable neonates with insufficient stores, can lead to spontaneous bleeding and devastating effects. In this case, we report a young infant with late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding who did not receive vitamin K prophylaxis after birth. Read More

Dig Liver Dis 2017 Jun 23;49(6):672-675. Epub 2017 Jan 23.

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Electronic address:

The available data on the influence of liver cirrhosis on vitamin K status in CF patients is scarce. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of vitamin K deficiency in cirrhotic CF subjects and to determine whether it correlates with liver cirrhosis. The study group comprised of 27 CF patients with and 63 without liver cirrhosis. Read More

Clin Lab 2016 Nov;62(11):2253-2256

Background: To explore the characteristics of laboratory examination and confirm the diagnosis of a patient with combined inherited FVII and FX deficiency after he ingested diphacinone rodenticide accidentally.

Methods: The coagulant parameter screening tests and coagulation factor activities were tested many times in the patient due to accidental ingestion of a diphacinone rodenticide. After the patient was treated for more than one year, gene analysis of correlated coagulation factors was analyzed in the patient and other family members by DNA direct sequencing. Read More

Matern Child Health J 2017 May;21(5):1079-1084

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Blood Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Objectives Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in infants is a coagulopathy preventable with a single dose of injectable vitamin K at birth. The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated vitamin K refusal among parents in 2013 after learning of four cases of VKDB associated with prophylaxis refusal. Methods Chart reviews were conducted at Nashville-area hospitals for 2011-2013 and Tennessee birthing centers for 2013 to identify parents who had refused injectable vitamin K for their infants. Read More

Med J Armed Forces India 2016 Dec 25;72(Suppl 1):S142-S143. Epub 2016 May 25.

Executive Officer, INHS Asvini, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India.

J Am Soc Nephrol 2017 Jun 3;28(6):1717-1722. Epub 2017 Jan 3.

Cardiology, and.

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. The ability of MGP to inhibit calcification requires the activity of a vitamin K-dependent enzyme, which mediates MGP carboxylation. We investigated how MGP carboxylation influences the risk of calciphylaxis in adult patients receiving dialysis and examined the effects of vitamin K deficiency on MGP carboxylation. Read More

Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017 Jan 25;27(2):208-211. Epub 2016 Nov 25.

R&D Group VitaK, Maastricht University, Oxfordlaan 70, 6229 EV Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Vitamin K is the collective term for compounds that share a 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone ring, but differ in the side-chain at the 3-position. We synthesized novel 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives with different side chain length at the 3-position. Derivatives with C-14 and C-16 tails showed the highest in vitro bioactivity resulting in 2. Read More

Nephron 2017 13;135(3):167-172. Epub 2016 Dec 13.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification and needs vitamin K-dependent carboxylation for its activity. High levels of desphosphorylated uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) were significantly associated with vitamin K deficiency and vascular calcification. This study was conducted to explore the correlations of plasma dp-ucMGP with vascular calcification and vascular stiffness in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Read More

N Z Med J 2016 Dec 2;129(1446):44-52. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin.

Aims: Vitamin K prophylaxis represents one of the first healthcare decisions families make for their newborn. Information resources are an important component of this process. This study aimed to identify and analyse written information about vitamin K. Read More

World J Pediatr 2017 Feb 15;13(1):15-19. Epub 2016 Nov 15.

Braun School Public Health and Community Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Ein Karem, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background: Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) can cause prolonged and bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) among newborns, which can be life-threatening or lead to long-term morbidity. The aim of this review article is to reiterate empirical evidence to support the argument that vitamin K should be mandatory for newborns in India and China, as well as in other countries with a high burden of neonatal deaths.

Data Sources: Studies were integrated from the PubMed/MEDLINE database search, as well as related literature available elsewhere. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2017 16;45(1):4-13. Epub 2016 Nov 16.

Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., Canada.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have very high levels of uncarboxylated, inactive, extra-hepatic vitamin K-dependent proteins measured in circulation, putting them at risk for complications of vitamin K deficiency. The major form of vitamin K found in the liver is phylloquinone (K1). Menaquinone-4 (MK-4) is the form of vitamin K that is preferentially found in extra-hepatic tissues. Read More

Am J Nephrol 2017 15;45(1):1-3. Epub 2016 Nov 15.

Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy.

Hamostaseologie 2016 Nov;36(Suppl. 2):S13-S20

Prof. Dr. med. Johannes Oldenburg, Institute of Experimental Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Clinic Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany, Tel. +49/(0)228/28  71 51-75 or -76, Fax +49/(0)228/28 71-60 87 or -47 83, Email:

Vitamin K 2,3-epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 (VKORC1) is an enzyme essential for the vitamin K cycle. VKORC1 catalyses the reduction of vitamin K 2,3-epoxide to the quinone form of vitamin K and further to vitamin K hydroquinone. The generated vitamin K hydroquinone serves as substrate for the enzyme γ-glutamyl-carboxylase which modifies all vitamin K-dependent proteins, allowing them to bind calcium ions necessary for physiological activity. Read More

Haemophilia 2017 Mar 4;23(2):230-237. Epub 2016 Nov 4.

Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: Hepatitis C is the major cause of end-stage liver disease and the major indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) in individuals with haemophilia.

Aim: To assess the epidemiology and outcomes of OLTx in U.S. Read More

Pulse (Basel) 2016 Sep 24;4(2-3):85-91. Epub 2016 Aug 24.

Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; R & D Group VitaK, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Vitamin-K-dependent carboxylation of matrix Gla protein (MGP) protects the macrocirculation against calcification. We recently reported in a multiethnic population study that the estimated glomerular filtration rate, a microvascular trait, decreased and the risk of chronic kidney disease increased with higher circulating levels of inactive dephospho-uncarboxylated MGP, a marker of vitamin K deficiency. These findings highlighted the possibility that vitamin K might have a beneficial effect on the renal microcirculation. Read More

J Bone Miner Metab 2016 Oct 8. Epub 2016 Oct 8.

Department of Rheumatology, King Fahd Hospital, Al Madinah AlMunawarah, Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of vitamin K homologs as potential biomarkers for disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, 42 patients with RA and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum levels of vitamin K homologs were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence method. Read More

Pancreatology 2016 Nov - Dec;16(6):988-994. Epub 2016 Sep 20.

Digestive & Liver Disease Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, University "Sapienza", Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients are at risk for fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) deficiency, but available studies are small and heterogeneous. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of fat-soluble vitamins deficiency in CP patients.

Methods: Medline was searched up to January 2016 for case series and case-control studies reporting prevalence of fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in CP patients. Read More

Zdr Varst 2015 Sep 9;54(3):184-93. Epub 2015 Jun 9.

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to explore two aspects of neonatal prophylaxis: the application of the vitamin K injection to the newborns and the prophylaxis against chlamydial and gonococcal eye infections, comparing Slovenian and Croatian practices.

Methods: A causal non-experimental method of quantitative empirical approach was used. The data was collected by means of predesigned questionnaires. Read More

Case Rep Obstet Gynecol 2016 11;2016:5384943. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 09216, Japan.

Hyperemesis gravidarum can cause various vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin K deficiency can lead to coagulopathy or hemorrhagic diathesis. A nulliparous Japanese woman with hyperemesis gravidarum at 10(5/7) weeks was admitted with giant myoma, intestinal obstruction, and abdominal pain. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2016 Jul 19;16:97. Epub 2016 Jul 19.

Department of Regional Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.

Background: The morbidity and mortality rates due to cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction are known to exhibit seasonal variations. Moreover, changes in the ambient temperature are reportedly associated with an increase in these events, which may potentially involve blood coagulation markers. Bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency in neonates, which is associated with high mortality and a high frequency of neurological sequelae, is more commonly observed during the summer season and in warm regions in Japan. Read More

J Midwifery Womens Health 2016 Jul 7. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

The risk that a newborn will develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding is 1700/100,000 (one out of 59) if vitamin K is not administered. When intramuscular vitamin K is administered, the risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding is reduced to 1/100,000. While women may have misconceptions about vitamin K prophylaxis for their newborns, health care providers should be prepared with factual information. Read More

J Nutr 2016 Aug 6;146(8):1521-7. Epub 2016 Jul 6.

Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA;

Background: There has been limited characterization of biological variables that impact vitamin K metabolism. This gap in knowledge can limit the translation of data obtained from preclinical animal studies to future human studies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of diet, sex, and housing on serum, tissue, and fecal vitamin K concentrations and gene expression in C57BL6 mice during dietary vitamin K manipulation. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2016 Jun 23;2016. Epub 2016 Jun 23.

J Emerg Med 2016 Aug 11;51(2):164-7. Epub 2016 Jun 11.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine.

Background: Infants are at risk for vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) because of limited stores of vitamin K (VK) at birth and a low concentration of VK in human breast milk. Therefore, the administration of intramuscular (IM) VK at birth has been recommended since 1961 in the United States. Infants who do not receive IM VK and who are exclusively breast-fed are at increased risk for VKDB. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2016 Jun 6;2016. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona Medical Center-University Campus, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

There is a well-known association between vitamin K deficiency and haemorrhagic events including gastrointestinal bleeding. There is also a well-known association between both poor dietary intake of vitamin K and chronic antibiotic use and the development of vitamin K deficiency. Although the medical literature notes that cephalosporin antibiotics have a propensity to cause vitamin K deficiency due to the molecular structure of the medications and their ability to suppress the synthesis of clotting factors, there are other antibiotics that have also been implicated in the development of vitamin K deficiency. Read More

Int J Exp Pathol 2016 Apr 3;97(2):187-93. Epub 2016 Jun 3.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.

The main vitamin K-deficient model, minidose warfarin, is different from the pathological mechanism of vitamin K deficiency, which is a shortage of vitamin K. The objective of this study was to establish a new method of vitamin K-deficient model combining a vitamin K-deficient diet with the intragastrical administration of gentamicin in rats. The clotting was assayed by an automated coagulation analyser. Read More

Acta Clin Belg 2016 Dec 25;71(6):462-467. Epub 2016 May 25.

a Department of Internal Medicine, Renal Division , Ghent University Hospital , Ghent , Belgium.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prone to vascular calcification. Pathogenetic mechanisms of vascular calcifications have been broadly studied and discussed such as the role of hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcemia, parathormone, and vitamin D. In recent years, new insights have been gained pointing to vitamin K as a main actor. Read More

Pediatrics 2016 May;137(5)

Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; and

Background And Objectives: Based on a high incidence of Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in breastfed infants with thus far unrecognized cholestasis, such as biliary atresia (BA), the Dutch regimen to prevent VKDB in breastfed infants was changed from a daily oral dosage of 25 µg to 150 µg vitamin K. Infants continued to receive 1 mg of vitamin K orally at birth. We compared the efficacy of the 150-µg regimen with the 25-µg regimen and with the Danish regimen of a single intramuscular (IM) dose of 2 mg vitamin K at birth. Read More

Clin Nutr 2017 Apr 28;36(2):601-607. Epub 2016 Apr 28.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Background & Aims: Vitamin K acts as a coenzyme in the γ-carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins, including coagulation factors, osteocalcin, matrix Gla protein (MGP), and the growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) protein. Osteocalcin is a key factor for bone matrix formation. MGP is a local inhibitor of soft tissue calcification. Read More

Surg Today 2017 Feb 25;47(2):145-150. Epub 2016 May 25.

Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.

Several authors have reported the relationship between gastric cancer risk and vitamins. However, there are few reports on fat-soluble vitamins after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Fat malabsorption and suppression of food intake after gastrectomy for gastric cancer have been previously documented. Read More

J Neonatal Perinatal Med 2016 May;9(2):139-43

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

Background: Protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA)-II, inactive precursor of prothrombin, is elevated in vitamin K (VK) deficiency. Our aims were to find the prevalence of VK deficiency in neonates, assess the utility of international normalized ratio (INR) as a screening tool, and explore the relationship between PIVKA-II, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and VK dependent anticoagulants.

Methods: INR, aPTT, PIVKA-II, and proteins C and S activities were measured in neonatal cord blood prior to VK administration. Read More

Masui 2016 Apr;65(4):407-10

An 85-year-old woman with a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis due to common duct stones gradually developed severe coagulation dysfunction over the course of 27 days after hospitalization. Initial clinical findings were fever, general malaise, and obstructive jaundice. She was treated with fasting, and received cephem antibiotics containing N-methyl-thio-tetrazole. Read More