title: The pharmacology and therapeutics of vitamin K.
abstract: Much has been learned in the past 10 years about the mechanism of action of coumarin anticoagulants and the role of vitamin K in the production of functional clotting factors. This paper reviews the mechanism for post-ribosomal modification of precursor proteins into functional clotting factors, the therapeutic uses of vitamin K, pharmacologic and therapeutic uses of vitamin K antagonists, and the current means of testing for vitamin K antagonism. In addition, information concerning newly discovered vitamin K-dependent proteins in other tissues and pathologic processing is discussed.
mesh_terms: D015055:1-Carboxyglutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012378:Rodenticides; D014481:United States; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D006475:Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012378:Rodenticides; D014812:Vitamin K; D015055:1-Carboxyglutamic Acid; D011516:Prothrombin