The In Vivo Effects of Oral Anticoagulants in Man: Comparison Between Liver and Non-Hepatic Tissues

Summary

The in vivo effects of oral anticoagulant therapy with 4–hydroxycoumarins on various vitamin K–dependent enzyme systems in man were compared. In hepatic microsomes obtained from donors who has been treated with 4–hydroxycoumarins for more than 6 months, the vitamin K 2,3 epoxide reductase activity and the DTT–dependent vitamin K quinone reductase activity were diminished to 35% and 20% of the corresponding normal values. In the non–hepatic tissues, only a small decrease in vitamin K 2,3 epoxide reductase activity could be demonstrated, while no differences were found in the vitamin K quinone reductase activities. In none of the tissues a significant increase of non–carboxylated precursor proteins was observed, whereas also vitamin K hydroquinone–dependent carboxylase activities seemed to be unaffected by the anticoagulant treatment.

Keywords

Vitamin K - Coumarin derivatives - Anticoagulant therapy - Carboxylase - Gammacarboxyglutamic acid

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