difenacoum and Drug-Overdose

Difenacoum is a long-acting superwarfarin-type anticoagulant that exerts its effect through inhibiting vitamin K 2,3-epoxide reductase. Inhibition of this enzyme leads to reduced bioavailability of the metabolically active form of vitamin K resulting in decreased production of vitamin K-dependent proteins including coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X. A 45-year-old woman with psychiatric illness presented with haematuria. Laboratory test results indicated she had been exposed to a vitamin K antagonist which was subsequently identified as difenacoum. She was initially treated with phytomenadione, red cell suspension and octaplex. She was discharged on 30 mg phytomenadione daily but monitoring of vitamin K markers indicated that compliance was poor, and 152 days post-admission she presented with haemoptysis. Difenacoum and other superwarfarin rodenticides are freely available for purchase by the public. Cases such as this continue to raise issues about their availability and regulation.

Topics: 4-Hydroxycoumarins; Blood Coagulation Factors; Drug Overdose; Erythrocyte Transfusion; Female; Hematuria; Hemoptysis; Humans; Medication Adherence; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Rodenticides; Vitamin K 1; Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases

A man presented with frank haematuria and a grossly prolonged prothrombin time. He was later found to have taken an overdose of difenacoum--a 'superwarfarin' rodenticide. The diagnosis was confirmed by a serum concentration of difenacoum of 0.6 micrograms ml-1. Overdosage with superwarfarins is discussed and the need for prolonged treatment with vitamin K1 highlighted.

Topics: 4-Hydroxycoumarins; Adult; Drug Overdose; Hematuria; Humans; Male; Prothrombin Time; Rodenticides; Vitamin K