A 50-year-old man is being examined by his physician due to complaints of frequent oily bowel movements. He indicates that his stools are also difficult to flush down the toilet. His history indicates chronic pancreatitis and a high level of alcohol consumption. Which of the following laboratory findings is most likely to be increased in this man?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Chronic pancreatitis can lead to malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin K, which is necessary for the synthesis of clotting factors. A deficiency in vitamin K can result in an increased prothrombin time.  Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. In order for the fat-soluble vitamins to be absorbed from the intestines, they must be emulsified along with all the other fatty molecules in the diet. In addition, adequate nutrient absorption requires pancreatic secretion into the intestines to aid digestive processes. Due to the chronic pancreatitis in this patient, there is a reduced or lack of pancreatic secretions into the gut leading to difficulty absorbing nutrients with their subsequent excretion in the feces. Reduced intake of vitamin K will lead to defective modification of coagulation factors within the liver, resulting in prolonged bleeding times.

A 50-Year-Old Man Is Being Examined by His Physician Due