Vitamin K Deficiency Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Dieu-Thu Nguyen-Khoa, MD; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 23, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Any bleeding disorder should prompt an investigation to exclude vitamin K (VK) deficiency. The best way to differentiate bleeding related to VK deficiency from that related to hepatocellular failure is through determination of the patient's factor V level. Factor V is synthesized by the liver and is not a VK-dependent factor. In patients with severe liver disease, factor V and VK-dependent factors are low, but in VK deficiency, the factor V level is within the reference range.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Dieu-Thu Nguyen-Khoa, MD  Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine; Physician Specialist, Department of Primary Care and Community Medicine, ValleyCare Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Dieu-Thu Nguyen-Khoa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Hampton Roy Sr, MD  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pankaj Patel, MD  Fellow, Department of Gastroenterology, Winthrop University Hospital and The School of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center

Pankaj Patel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology and American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mageda Mikhail, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, The School of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center

Mageda Mikhail, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

George T Griffing, MD  Professor of Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine

George T Griffing, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Medical Practice Executives, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, Central Society for Clinical Research, Endocrine Society, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP Professor of Endocrinology, Director of Training Program, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Strelitz Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, and Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

References

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