Vitamin K deficiency with hemorrhage after kidney and combined kidney-pancreas transplantation

Am J Kidney Dis. 1999 May;33(5):963-5. doi: 10.1016/s0272-6386(99)70433-6.

Abstract

Vitamin K deficiency is a common occurrence in the surgical and intensive care unit population, but its incidence in kidney and combined kidney-pancreas allograft recipients has not been described. We report four patients who received cadaveric kidney or combined kidney-pancreas allografts and subsequently developed significant bleeding associated with deficiency of vitamin K. Their coagulopathy promptly resolved with the parenteral administration of vitamin K. Treatment with vitamin K should be considered in kidney or combined kidney-pancreas allograft recipients with a prolonged prothrombin or partial thromboplastin time during the first postoperative week to avoid hemorrhagic complications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Coagulation Tests
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreas Transplantation*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Vitamin K / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / complications*
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / drug therapy

Substances

  • Vitamin K