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Vitamin K
plays a crucial role in the body's ability to form blood
clots and stop any bleeding. It is found primarily in green
leafy vegetables. Deficiency of vitamin K can lead to
increased, unchecked bleeding. Once detected, this condition
is easily treated.
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- Easy or prolonged bleeding is
usually the only symptom.
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- Vitamin K deficiency usually develops in patients who do not eat a proper diet (rich in green leafy vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cheddar cheese, etc.) or have problems absorbing nutrients in the intestine.
- It also occurs in patients on
antibiotics such as Cholestyramine and Colestipol, sulfa
drugs, salicylates, and
Coumarin.
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- Blood tests may show that the blood is too thin. The Prothrombin time is
prolonged. The partial thromboplastin time may also be
slightly prolonged.
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- Supplemental vitamin K given as an
injection works within 12-24 hours.
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- A healthy diet will help prevent the complications of vitamin K deficiency. Foods rich in vitamin K include spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, and soybeans.
- Since certain bacteria in the
stomach manufacture vitamin K, patients on antibiotics for
extended periods may develop vitamin K deficiency as
antibiotics kill off the bacteria in the stomach. Vitamin K
supplements will help amend this source of deficiency.
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- Liver failure/cirrhosis
- Treatment with Warfarin
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
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