Vitamin K-Dependent Coagulation Parameters During the First Six Days of Life: Incidence of PIVKA II in Newborns

Abstract

The vitamin K-dependent carboxylation of the prothrombin precursor PIVKA II (protein induced by vitamin K absence analogous to Factor II) is essential for the synthesis of prothrombin. The noncarboxylated precursor is found in peripheral blood in the presence of vitamin K deficiency. In this study prothrombin time, Factor II and Factor VII activity, and PIVKA II were investigated in 57 newborns without vitamin K prophylaxis in order to assess their vitamin K status. Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated the presence of PIVKA II in 21% of the newborns, predominantly on the second day. The PIVKA-II positive group showed significantly lower prothrombin times than the PIVKA II-negative group. An oral dose of 3 mg vitamin K (Konakion) was administered to 35 healthy newborns in a second group with the first feeding. On the second day of life, these infants showed significantly higher vitamin K-dependent laboratory parameters than the group not given vitamin K; only 9% of the treated infants were positive for PIVKA II.

Abnormal Prothrombin (PIVKA-II) Expression in Canine Tissues as an Indicator of Anticoagulant Poisoning

“…Coumarin anticoagulants are considered as antivitamin K [ 3 ]. During catalysis, vitamin K is converted from the active form to vitamin K 2,3-epoxide, which must be recycled to the active form by vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) to maintain the coagulation cycle.…”

Developmental hemostasis: recommendations for laboratories reporting pediatric samples

“…A number of studies have contributed towards characterizing the specific age‐related differences in the hemostatic system, by establishing reference ranges for hemostatic proteins [1–15].…”