[Effects of cefotaxime on the coagulation system, especially their dependence on vitamin K-related factors].

The authors administered cefotaxime to 20 children and studied laboratory parameters concerning peripheral blood: hemoglobin count, blood platelet count, red blood cell count, and hematocrit value, and the coagulation system: protein induced by vitamin K deficiency or by the presence of a vitamin K antagonist II (PIVKA II), hepaplastin test (HPT), prothrombin time (PT) and active partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Peripheral blood No abnormal values were observed. 2. Coagulation system (1) PIVKA II: In all cases, PIVKA II was negative. (2) HPT, PT and APTT: In all cases, no significant changes of these values which would suggest the tendency for prolonged bleeding were observed.