Appropriateness of using vitamin K for the correction of INR elevation secondary to hepatic disease in critically ill patients: An Observational Study

Abstract Background: Hepatic diseases have been associated with an increased risk of coagulopathy and increased odds of secondary thrombosis and bleeding. Using vitamin K for correction of coagulopathy in critically ill patients is controversial with limited evidence. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin K in the correction of international normalized ratio (INR) elevation secondary to liver disease in critically ill patients.Method: A retrospective study of adult ICU patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. The primary outcome was to evaluate the association between vitamin K administration and the incidence of new bleeding events in critically ill patients with INR elevation secondary to liver disease. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate the incidence of a new thrombotic event, and the degree of INR correction with vitamin K. Patients were divided into two groups based on vitamin K administration to correct INR elevation. The propensity score was generated based on disease severity scores and the use of pharmacological DVT prophylaxis. Results: A total of 98 patients were included in the study. Forty-seven patients (48%) received vitamin K during the study period. The incidence of the new bleeding event was not statistically different between groups (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.28-21.67, P=0.42). Delta of INR reduction was observed with a median of 0.63 when the first dose is given (p-value: <.0001). However, other subsequent doses of vitamin K were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Using vitamin K for INR correction in critically ill patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease was not associated with a lower incidence of new bleeding events. Vitamin K was efficient in reducing INR level at the first dose, and other subsequent doses were not.