Successful therapy of myelodysplastic syndrome with menatetrenone, a vitamin K2 analog

Int J Hematol. 1999 Jan;69(1):24-6.

Abstract

Although vitamin K2 is an inducer of the in vitro differentiation of myeloid leukemic cell lines, its clinical efficacy in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is unclear. We administered a vitamin K2 analog, menatetrenone, at 45 mg daily to an 80-year-old woman with MDS (refractory anemia) heavily dependent on red-cell transfusions. The patient's pancytopenia gradually improved, and she became transfusion-independent after 14 months. Pancytopenia recurred when menatetrenone was discontinued but recovered again with readministration. Administration of menatetrenone at a dose effective in improving osteoporosis may also be useful in restoring hematopoiesis in MDS patients, possibly by way of inducing differentiation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anemia, Refractory / complications
  • Anemia, Refractory / drug therapy*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Calcifediol / therapeutic use
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / complications
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / drug therapy
  • Vitamin K / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin K / pharmacology
  • Vitamin K / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin K 2 / analogs & derivatives

Substances

  • Vitamin K 2
  • Vitamin K
  • menatetrenone
  • Calcifediol