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== Diagnosing Vitamin K Deficiency ==

== Diagnosing Vitamin K Deficiency ==

A true deficiency of Vitamin K is rarely encountered in clinical practice; a relative deficiency resulting from intoxication with a Vitamin K antagonist (e.g., Warfarin) is more likely. A clinical suspicion arises when animals have bleeding tendencies (e.g., haemorrhage) compatible clinical signs and prolongation of [[Coagulation Tests#Prothrombin Time|prothrombin time (PT)]] and possibly activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Measuring elevated levels of Proteins Induced by Vitamin K Antagonism (PIVKA) is a sensitive indicator for vitamin K deficiency and enables confirmation of the diagnosis; however, PIVKA is not a direct vitamin K test but simply a more sensitive assay for PT<ref>Mount ME, et al. Use of a test for proteins induced by vitamin K absence or antagonism in diagnosis of anticoagulant poisoning in dogs: 325 cases (1987-1997). JAVMA 2003;222:194-198.</ref>.

A true deficiency of Vitamin K is rarely encountered in clinical practice; a relative deficiency resulting from intoxication with a Vitamin K antagonist (e.g. Warfarin) is more likely. A clinical suspicion arises when animals have bleeding tendencies (e.g. haemorrhage) compatible clinical signs and prolongation of [[Coagulation Tests#Prothrombin Time|prothrombin time (PT)]] and possibly activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Measuring elevated levels of Proteins Induced by Vitamin K Antagonism (PIVKA) is a sensitive indicator for vitamin K deficiency and enables confirmation of the diagnosis; however, PIVKA is not a direct vitamin K test but simply a more sensitive assay for PT<ref>Mount ME, et al. Use of a test for proteins induced by vitamin K absence or antagonism in diagnosis of anticoagulant poisoning in dogs: 325 cases (1987-1997). JAVMA 2003;222:194-198.</ref>.

==References==

==References==