Vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors in gram-negative septicemia

Coagulation studies were performed on 16 children with gram-negative septicemia without the complications of septic shock, liver disease, malnutrition, or laboratory evidence of classic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Ten (63%) of the 16 cases were found to have abnormal partial thromboplastin and/or prothrombin times. The coagulopathy was caused by a reduction in the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. The mechanism that produced this coagulopathy was not known, but evidence was found that suggested that endotoxin may interfere with the vitamin K-carboxylation reaction. The data indicated that abnormal coagulation screening test results in children with gram-negative septicemia were not specific for DIC and that a significant number of patients had a coagulopathy not related to DIC.