E56.1

Clinical Causes: Inadequate dietary intake of vitamin K-rich foods such as leafy greens, vegetable oils, and some fruits Malabsorption syndromes including celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or cystic fibrosis that hinder absorption of vitamin K from the digestive tract Liver diseases like hepatitis or cirrhosis that impair the production of proteins involved in clotting Use of certain medications such as anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin), antibiotics, or other drugs that interfere with vitamin K metabolism Newborns with immature liver function or those not receiving vitamin K at birth

Key Symptoms: Unexplained bruising or easy bleeding Bleeding gums Blood in urine or stool Prolonged bleeding from cuts or injuries Heavy menstrual periods In rare cases, bleeding in internal organs In infants, symptoms may include bleeding around the umbilical cord or other sites

Diagnosis Path: Diagnosis of vitamin K deficiency is based on a combination of medical history, physical examination, and blood tests. These tests include measuring clotting times such as prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR), which typically increase when vitamin K levels are low. Additional tests may be done to assess underlying causes, especially if malabsorption or liver disease is suspected.

Treatment Protocols: Treatment focuses on correcting the deficiency and addressing its underlying causes. Approaches include administering vitamin K supplements orally or via injection, especially in cases of significant bleeding. Dietary modifications to include more vitamin K-rich foods can help prevent recurrence. Managing contributing factors like medication use or malabsorption conditions is also essential. In newborns, prophylactic vitamin K injections are commonly given soon after birth to prevent deficiency-related bleeding.