The pharmacology and therapeutics of vitamin K
Brace, L.
American Journal of Medical Technology 49(6): 457-463
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9335 PMID: 6349360 Document Number: 219077
Much has been learned in the past 10 years about the mechanism of action of coumarin anticoagulants and the role of vitamin K in the production of functional clotting factors. This paper reviews the mechanism for post-ribosomal modification of precursor proteins into functional clotting factors, the therapeutic uses of vitamin K, pharmacologic and therapeutic uses of vitamin K antagonists, and the current means of testing for vitamin K antagonism. In addition, information concerning newly discovered vitamin K-dependent proteins in other tissues and pathologic processing is discussed.