title: The extent of vitamin K deficiency in patients with cholestatic jaundice: a preliminary communication.
abstract: Eleven patients with cholestatic jaundice had measurements of plasma vitamin K1 performed. Seven of these 11 (64%) had subnormal levels. The prothrombin time (PT) was prolonged in three of 15 patients with cholestasis (20%), the patient with the longest PT had the lowest vitamin K1 level. A single intramuscular (im) dose of 10 mg vitamin K1 lowered the PT in 9/15 patients (includes correcting the three prolonged PTs). The initial mean plasma vitamin K1 level rose 24 h later, to a mean plasma level which was 33 times the upper limit of the normal physiological range. These preliminary results suggest that a majority of patients presenting with cholestatic jaundice have low tissue reserves of vitamin K1, and that guidelines for vitamin K1 therapy in patients with cholestatic jaundice should be revised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shearer
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Horgan
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Given
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D010837:Vitamin K 1 / Q000097:blood; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D010837:Vitamin K 1; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase