title: Vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors in gram-negative septicemia.
abstract: Coagulation studies were performed on 16 children with gram-negative septicemia without the complications of septic shock, liver disease, malnutrition, or laboratory evidence of classic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Ten (63%) of the 16 cases were found to have abnormal partial thromboplastin and/or prothrombin times. The coagulopathy was caused by a reduction in the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. The mechanism that produced this coagulopathy was not known, but evidence was found that suggested that endotoxin may interfere with the vitamin K-carboxylation reaction. The data indicated that abnormal coagulation screening test results in children with gram-negative septicemia were not specific for DIC and that a significant number of patients had a coagulopathy not related to DIC.
mesh_terms: D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria; D006801:Humans; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000502:physiology; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D014812:Vitamin K