Vitamin K Deficiency Differential Diagnoses

Updated: Sep 27, 2017
  • Author: Dieu-Thu Nguyen-Khoa, MD, FACP; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD  more...
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DDx

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