Vitamin K is administered for which purpose in treating hepatitis?

Vitamin K plays a crucial role in the synthesis of clotting factors in the liver, specifically factors II, VII, IX, and X, which are essential for effective blood coagulation. In the context of hepatitis, one of the complications that can arise is impaired liver function, which may lead to a decrease in the production of these clotting factors. This can result in prolonged prothrombin time (PT), reflecting a deficiency in the body’s ability to clot blood properly.

Administering vitamin K helps to restore the levels of clotting factors that are deficient due to liver damage or dysfunction. By doing so, vitamin K effectively reduces prolonged PT, thereby mitigating the risk of bleeding complications associated with liver disease. This administration is particularly significant when assessing patients with hepatitis who may have altered liver function affecting coagulation processes.

While liver inflammation, bile production, and appetite management are important aspects of overall liver health and may warrant treatment approaches, they are not directly addressed by vitamin K's role in clotting factor synthesis and PT normalization during hepatitis treatment.