The possibility of the native alcoholic drugs as an etiological factor of the acquired prothrombin complex deficiency syndrome

Abstract

This study was attempted to determine whether the native alcoholic drugs had any significant role in the pathogenesis of the APCD syndrome. The native alcoholic drugs, breast milk and maternal serum were analysed for vitamin K antagonists (dicoumarol, warfarin and coumarin). No vitamin K antagonists were detected from 14 commercial native alcoholic drugs, but one of the two homemade samples had a positive test for coumarin but not dicoumarol and warfarin. Seven breast milk and serum samples from the mothers of APCD infants showed no detectable amount of vitamin K antagonists. Negative results were found in 35 postpartum women who did not consume the drugs and 22 postpartum women who took the drugs. The results suggest that the native alcoholic drugs are unlikely to be the etiological factor of APCD syndrome.