Retrospective study of twenty-four patients with prolonged coagulopathy due to long-acting anti-vitamin K rodenticide poisoning.

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides are now the most common rat killers used in China; however, poisoning incidents are frequently reported. The authors retrospectively reviewed 24 patients with vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor deficiency caused by rodenticide poisoning in the past 2 years. The main clinical presentation was hemorrhage, although intracranial bleeding and life-threatening symptoms were not seen. All patients responded to vitamin K, the specific antidote, along with fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate, although prolonged treatment was sometimes required. To avoid such incidents, rodenticide should be safely stored and protective measures used during production and application. Once poisoning has occurred, vitamin K should be administered as soon as possible along with fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate.