VKA

Medical abbreviation · Drug Class

VKA
Stands forVitamin K antagonist
CategoriesMedical

VKA stands for Vitamin K antagonist, a drug class abbreviation.

Oral anticoagulants that block the recycling of vitamin K needed for several clotting factors. Warfarin is the main VKA in North America; acenocoumarol and phenprocoumon are used in Europe.

Example: Mechanical mitral valve: VKA with INR goal 2.5-3.5.

Usage notes

Warfarin's name comes from WARF, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which funded its development as a rat poison in the 1940s. Dosing is guided by the INR blood test, and diet changes in vitamin K and many drug interactions alter its effect. VKAs remain the only oral option for mechanical heart valves.

More drug class abbreviations

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  • 5-HT3 RA – 5-HT3 receptor antagonist
  • AAD – Antiarrhythmic drug
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  • AChEI – Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
  • ACT – Artemisinin-based combination therapy
  • ADC – Antibody-drug conjugate
  • AED – Antiepileptic drug
  • AG – Aminoglycoside
  • AGI – Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor
  • AI – Aromatase inhibitor

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Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.