title: Vitamin K deficiency bleeding leading to the diagnosis of Crohn's disease.
abstract: We report the case of a 45 year old man who came to Emergency Room of Polyclinic for sudden onset of localized ecchymosis and widespread hematomas. He was subjected to blood count and first level investigations to assess coagulation. Based on the results, second level investigations were performed. Endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract with histological examination revealed a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Vitamin K deficiency causes the formation of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors that cannot perform their pro-coagulant action. Consequently, patients present with hemorrhagic manifestations. Clinical and laboratory features observed in this patient show that the deficiency of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors may reveal a complex clinical condition such as an inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agnello
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellia
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. CoreLab, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo  Coco
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. CoreLab, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. CoreLab, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo.
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coraci
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. CoreLab, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo.
authors.forename: Filippa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonura
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. CoreLab, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gnoffo
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Ematologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariasanta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bivona
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lo  Sasso
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo U.O.C. CoreLab, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo Marcello.ciaccio@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciaccio
mesh_terms: D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006475:Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Crohn’s disease; Vitamin K; thromboelastogram