Agnello Luisa, Bellia Chiara, Lo Coco Lucio, Vitale Silvana, Coraci Felicia, Bonura Filippa, Gnoffo Rossella, Napolitano Mariasanta, Caruso Antonietta, Bivona Giulia, Lo Sasso Bruna, Ciaccio Marcello
Sezione di Biochimica Clinica e Medicina Molecolare Clinica, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
U.O.C. CoreLab, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico, Palermo.
Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2014 Summer;44(3):337-40.
We report the case of a 45 year old man who came to Emergency Room of Polyclinic for sudden onset of localized ecchymosis and widespread hematomas. He was subjected to blood count and first level investigations to assess coagulation. Based on the results, second level investigations were performed. Endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract with histological examination revealed a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Vitamin K deficiency causes the formation of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors that cannot perform their pro-coagulant action. Consequently, patients present with hemorrhagic manifestations. Clinical and laboratory features observed in this patient show that the deficiency of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors may reveal a complex clinical condition such as an inflammatory bowel disease.