menadiol

Menadiol diphosphate is given as a vitamin K supplement to prevent bleeding caused by vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K is normally obtained from the diet; for example it is found in green leafy vegetables, root vegetables, cereals and dairy products. Although it cannot be made by the human body itself, a certain amount of vitamin K is also made by bacteria that live in the gut. The body normally produces bile to help it absorb fats from the gut. In conditions where there is a problem with the production of bile, for example in certain liver diseases, or if there is a blockage of the bile duct, there can be problems absorbing fats. This can lead to vitamin K deficiency, decreased production of clotting factors and an increased risk of bleeding. In these situations, menadiol diphosphate is given as a vitamin K supplement to increase the production of clotting factors. It is water soluble so is readily absorbed from the gut. Also in 1974 was made attempt to develop tritiated derivatives of Synkavit (menadiol sodium diphosphate, MNDP) of high specific activity as a radioactive drug. Among the 203 evaluable treated cases, some form of response was observed in 23 out of 151 (15·2%) receiving the drug by intravenous injections and 13 out of 52 (25%) after intra-arterial injections. For the sites and types of malignant diseases which showed responses after either intravenous or intra-arterial administration among the 55 patients surviving at least 3 months after the first injection, some form of response was observed in 32 but only 5 of these showed either a "complete" or a "partial" response.It is concluded that further investigation is desirable. Kappadione is a Vitamin K derivative, was discontinued. It was manufactured by Eli Lilly and others Company. — NCATS