Vitamin K Deficiency - Acquired Coagulation Disorders

VITAMIN K DEFICIENCY

The synthesis of many coagulation factors depends on vitamin K. Vitamin K deficiency is typical in malnourished patients, and some antibiotics decrease the intestinal flora that produce vitamin K, depleting vitamin K stores. Administration of vitamin K ( phytonazdione [eg, Mephyton], either orally or as a subcutaneous injec-tion) can correct the deficiency quickly; adequate synthesis of co-agulation factors is reflected by normalization of the PT.