Effect of Vitamin K on Coagulation Profile in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Abstract

Background: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is very common in our patient population. CLD is defined as symptomatic liver disease documented to exist for at least 6 months. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin and has the potential to cause hypervitaminosis; therefore, the practice of giving vitamin K empirically, is not without side effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of the administration of vitamin K to adult patients of stable CLD, on the coagulation profile, as estimated by PT-INR.  Material & Methods: This prospective, observational study recruited 100 patients with stable CLD attending the medical outpatient department or wards of Yenepoya Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, over a period of 18 months, after obtaining informed consent. Vitamin K was administered subcutaneously, in a dose of 10 mg per day for 3 consecutive days. PT INR was monitored. Result: The age range was 21-92 years. Males and females constituted 86% and 14% respectively. Correlation between severity of coagulopathy of CLD patients and administration of vitamin K was significant. Conclusion: The administration of vitamin K was found to alter the PT-INR. However, the difference between those who improved and those who did not is not significant. Therefore, giving vitamin K routinely to CLD patients does not have a scientific rationale.

Keywords: Coagulopathy, Vitamin K, Cirrhosis, Prothrombin Time, INR, Chronic Liver Disease.