Acarboxy prothrombin (PIVKA-II) in cord plasma in the south of Thailand
Laosombat, V.; Kenpitak, K.; Wongchanchailert, M.; Wiriyasateinkul, A.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 76(5): 278-284
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 8006559 Document Number: 411171
Acarboxy prothrombin or PIVKA-II (protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II) was used to determine the presence of vitamin deficiency in newborn infants. Of 230 cord blood samples assayed by using ELISA method, 34.8 per cent were positive for PIVKA-II 0.13-17 AU/ml. The positive rate for PIVKA-II was greater in infants of primigravida (50.7%) than in those of multigravida (27.9%). All infants received prophylactic vitamin K, and no infant with positive PIVKA-II in cord blood subsequently had clinical bleeding. Because of the high prevalence of vitamin K deficiency in newborn infants in the South of Thailand, all newborn infants should receive prophylactic vitamin K at birth.