What Do High Prothrombin Levels Mean?
Last Updated Apr 16, 2020 2:52:06 AM ET
High prothrombin time levels mean a patient's blood clotting time is longer than normal, states Mayo Clinic. Average prothrombin times range between 10 and 14 seconds. Results for patients taking warfarin, a blood thinner, are stated as the international normalized ratio, INR; the range is about 2.0 to 3.0.
If an INR is above the range, the patient's blood is clotting too slowly. Doctors only use the INR for patients taking oral blood thinners, notes Mayo Clinic. Causes of high prothrombin time include blood thinners such as heparin, liver disorders, vitamin K deficiency and deficiencies in proteins required for clotting. The prothrombin time test aids in diagnosing liver or bleeding problems.
More From Reference

10 Must-Watch TED Talks That Have the Power to Change Your Life

Strange Americana: Does Video Footage of Bigfoot Really Exist?

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change In-Person Retail Shopping in Lasting Ways

Tips and Tricks for Making Driveway Snow Removal Easier

Here’s How Online Games Like Prodigy Are Revolutionizing Education

What Are the Steps of Presidential Impeachment?