An unusual case of severe acquired coagulopathy from cancer cachexia-related vitamin K deficiency
Department
Internal Medicine
Additional Department
Oncology and Hematology
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis
Abstract
Vitamin K deficiency is a well recognized cause of acquired coagulopathy, but its presentation as severe coagulopathy in the setting of advanced malignancy is not well described. We report a 67-year-old man with recurrent metastatic urothelial carcinoma and severe cachexia who presented with a markedly prolonged prothrombin time (PT) of 105.8 s and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of 58.2 s. Hematologic evaluation revealed deficiencies in vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, and his coagulopathy corrected with intravenous vitamin K replacement. This case highlights that cancer cachexia itself can precipitate clinically significant vitamin K deficiency in patients with advanced malignancy leading to severe coagulopathy.
First Page
349
Last Page
351
DOI
10.1097/MBC.0000000000001444
Volume
37
Issue
7
Publication Date
10-1-2026
Publisher
Lippincott Williams And Wilkins
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Vitamin K Deficiency; Cachexia; Male; Aged; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Vitamin K
PubMed ID
42506895
Recommended Citation
Balusu, K., Foo, C., & Kouides, P. A. (2026). An unusual case of severe acquired coagulopathy from cancer cachexia-related vitamin K deficiency. Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis, 37 (7), 349-351. https://doi.org/10.1097/MBC.0000000000001444