CLINICAL STUDIES ON DICUMAROL® HYPOPROTHROMBINEMIA AND VITAMIN K PREPARATIONS

Abstract

THE HYPOPROTHROMBINEMIA induced with dicumarol^® (3, 3,3′-methylene-bis-[4-hydroxycoumarin] ) is much more difficult to control than that which is the result of obstructive jaundice and other states characterized by deficient intake or absorption of vitamin K. Substances which have vitamin K activity in amount sufficient to reverse the hypoprothrombinemia of the latter states are wholly inadequate against the effect of dicumarol.^® This report describes observations on the effect of three different compounds with vitamin K activity on the hypoprothrombinemia of human beings after dicumarol^® therapy. Determination of the rapidity and degree to which the hypoprothrombinemia induced with this agent can be reversed is a logical and safe method of investigating the efficacy of these agents in man and is the basis on which these studies have been made. There is general agreement that when bleeding occurs as the result of dicumarol^® poisoning the main cause is prothrombin deficiency.