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Pediatric Transplants

Vitamin K deficiency in children pre-bone marrow transplantation

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of vitamin K deficiency in children pre-bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Vitamin K status was measured by the PIVKA-II assay and prothrombin times. Blood samples were obtained before vitamin-containing TPN was infused. Results indicated that eight of 26 patients (31%) were vitamin K deficient; four cases were attributed to drug antagonism (phenytoin) and four were due to inadequate vitamin K intake, synthesis or malabsorption. Only one patient had a prolonged prothrombin time. Prothrombin time, in our study, is shown to be an ineffective screening tool to determine vitamin K status. All patients receiving phenytoin and chemotherapy are at increased risk of vitamin K deficiency.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the ongoing support of Dr Fred Saunders, Dr Melvin Freedman and the nurses at the BMT unit. This study was generously supported by a grant from the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research.

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Correspondence to M A Barron.

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Barron, M., Doyle, J. & Zlotkin, S. Vitamin K deficiency in children pre-bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 37, 151–154 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705215

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