The extent of vitamin K deficiency in patients with cholestatic jaundice: a preliminary communication.
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.
O'Brien
D P
DP
Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Galway, Ireland.
Shearer
M J
MJ
Waldron
R P
RP
Horgan
P G
PG
Given
H F
HF
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*
D010837:Vitamin K 1; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase