We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Oral vitamin K lowers the international normalized ratio more rapidly than subcutaneous vitamin K in the treatment of warfarin-associated coagulopathy. A randomized, controlled trial.
- Authors
Crowther MA; Douketis JD; Schnurr T; Steidl L; Mera V; Ultori C; Venco A; Ageno W; Crowther, Mark A; Douketis, James D; Schnurr, Terri; Steidl, Luigi; Mera, Valentina; Ultori, Carolina; Venco, Achille; Ageno, Walter
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Excessive anticoagulation due to warfarin use is associated with hemorrhage. Subcutaneously administered vitamin K has not been evaluated for the treatment of warfarin-associated coagulopathy, yet it is widely used.<bold>Objective: </bold>To show that oral vitamin K is more effective than subcutaneous vitamin K in the treatment of warfarin-associated coagulopathy.<bold>Design: </bold>Randomized, controlled trial.<bold>Setting: </bold>Two teaching hospitals.<bold>Patients: </bold>Patients with an international normalized ratio (INR) between 4.5 and 10.0.<bold>Intervention: </bold>Warfarin therapy was withheld, and 1 mg of vitamin K was given orally or subcutaneously.<bold>Measurements: </bold>The primary outcome measure was the INR on the day after administration of vitamin K. Secondary outcome measures were hemorrhage and thrombosis during a 1-month follow-up period.<bold>Results: </bold>15 of 26 patients receiving oral vitamin K and 6 of 25 patients receiving subcutaneous vitamin K had therapeutic INRs on the day after study drug administration (P = 0.015; odds ratio, 4.32 [95% CI, 1.13 to 17.44]).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Oral vitamin K lowers INR more rapidly than subcutaneous vitamin K in asymptomatic patients who have supratherapeutic INR values while receiving warfarin.
- Publication
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2002, Vol 137, Issue 4, p251
- ISSN
0003-4819
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.7326/0003-4819-137-4-200208200-00009