PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Wilson, Sarah E.
AU  - Watson, Henry G.
AU  - Crowther, Mark A.
TI  - Low-dose oral vitamin K therapy for the management of asymptomatic patients with elevated international normalized ratios: a brief review
AID  - 10.1503/cmaj.1030478
DP  - 2004 Mar 02
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 821--824
VI  - 170
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/170/5/821.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/170/5/821.full
SO  - CMAJ2004 Mar 02; 170
AB  - ASYMPTOMATIC ELEVATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL normalized ratio (INR) is a common problem associated with hemorrhage. Evidence from randomized controlled trials supports the use of low-dose oral vitamin K therapy as a treatment that promptly reduces the INR. Vitamin K given orally is more effective than subcutaneous vitamin K injection, and as effective as intravenous administration when INR values are compared 24 hours after administration. A 1.0-mg vitamin K dose is likely most appropriate for patients with INR values between 4.5 and 10. The fear of over-correction of the INR has limited the widespread use of vitamin K; however, our review suggests that this occurs infrequently when small doses are administered orally.