A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis is prescribed warfarin. What happens to Vitamin K-dependent clotting factors when warfarin inhibits Vitamin K epoxide reductase?

💡 Explanation

Warfarin inhibits Vitamin K epoxide reductase, which is crucial for recycling Vitamin K. Because Vitamin K is required for the synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X, its inhibition leads to reduced production of these factors; therefore, the synthesis of clotting factors is reduced, rather than enhancing platelet aggregation or fibrinolysis, which would promote clot breakdown.

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