A patient on warfarin has an increased INR. Which vitamin reverses warfarin anticoagulation?

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Multiple Choice

A patient on warfarin has an increased INR. Which vitamin reverses warfarin anticoagulation?

Explanation:
Warfarin blocks the enzyme that recycles vitamin K, so the liver can’t activate the vitamin K–dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X. Replacing vitamin K allows those factors to be produced again, reducing the elevated INR and restoring clotting function. Therefore, vitamin K (phytomenadione) reverses warfarin anticoagulation. The other vitamins listed don’t influence the coagulation cascade or reverse warfarin’s effect, so they won’t normalize the INR. In urgent reversal, vitamin K can be given intravenously (often with other products like FFP or PCC for rapid effect); for less urgent cases, oral vitamin K is used.

Warfarin blocks the enzyme that recycles vitamin K, so the liver can’t activate the vitamin K–dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X. Replacing vitamin K allows those factors to be produced again, reducing the elevated INR and restoring clotting function. Therefore, vitamin K (phytomenadione) reverses warfarin anticoagulation.

The other vitamins listed don’t influence the coagulation cascade or reverse warfarin’s effect, so they won’t normalize the INR. In urgent reversal, vitamin K can be given intravenously (often with other products like FFP or PCC for rapid effect); for less urgent cases, oral vitamin K is used.

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