Abstract

Background: Many patients with advanced cancer are malnourished. Anorexia is common, as is the use of chemotherapy, which may cause nausea and poor appetite. Ten per cent of these patients experience haemorrhagic events.

Aim: Since vitamin K deficiency (VKD) causes bleeding, to establish the prevalence of VKD in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care.

Methods: Serum concentrations of vitamin K₁ and undercarboxylated factor II (PIVKA-II) were determined in 46 (17 male/29 female) inpatients aged 26–85 (mean 58) years. INR and liver function tests (bilirubin, ALT, GGT and ALP) were also performed.

Results: Vitamin K₁ was below the lower limit of the reference range (0.33 nmol/l) in 22% of patients. 78% of patients had some degree of functional VKD indicated by raised (>0.2 AU/ml) PIVKA-II. Six patients (13%) had a prolonged INR, all of whom had raised PIVKA-II and GGT; 4 also had vitamin K₁ <0.33 nmol/l. Three patients (6.5%) had clinically significant VKD characterised by INR >1.5, PIVKA-II >10 AU/ml, and undetectable vitamin K₁.

Conclusions: Patients with advanced cancer are prone to VKD which, while usually subclinical, may develop to a clinically relevant prolongation of the INR. Serum measurements of vitamin K₁ and PIVKA-II can be used to detect VKD and monitor vitamin K status before an increased risk of bleeding develops.