When Your Blood Does Not Clot Properly Factor V Leiden

Everyone inherits one gene from your mother and one from your father of a certain protein used in your blood for clotting. If you inherit one or both genes that are mutated it can increase...

Everyone inherits one gene from your mother and one from your father of a certain protein used in your blood for clotting. If you inherit one or both genes that are mutated it can increase your risk for developing a blood clot. Individuals can be homozygous for Factor V Leiden, and carry a risk of blood clots that are increased. Approximately 5% of the Caucasian population in the U.s. alone gets Factor V. Leiden. People of African-American or Hispanic nationality are less likely to get Factor V Leiden.

Women with Factor V Leiden are at higher risk for developing blood clots while pregnant which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, early fetal death or sudden placenta abruption. Having Factor V Leiden does not mean that you will develop a blood clot for sure, only that you have an increased risk for blood clotting.

If you are already at risk for blood clotting due to having Factor V Leiden you will increase your risk further by taking birth control pills, smoking, having surgery, participating in extended air travel, and being obese. Females should not use birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy if they have Factor V Leiden.

Clotting abnormalities like Factor V Leiden can lead to multiple miscarriages because of developing clots in the placenta or umbilical cord. The fetus can also inherit the disorder and develop a clot, which can then also lead to miscarriage.

If you become pregnant, are facing surgery or are scheduled to take a long airplane trip make sure you talk to your doctor about Factor v Leiden to see if you have the disorder. A simple blood test can reveal the answer. As many as 60% of women who develop a blood clot during pregnancy or dueing the postpartum period ahve the factor V. mutation. If tested positive for factor V homozygotes or heterozygotes women should receive heparin treatment during pregnancy even if they have never had a blood clot before.

Factor V mutation or factor V Leiden is the most common form of genetic venous thrombosis.

If you have had a history of blood clotting leading to thrombotic event, have a family history, have had multiple miscarriages you should ask to be screened for factor V Leiden.

Factor V mutation is only one of the genetic blood disorders others include Antithrombin III deficiency, plasminogen deficiency, Heparin cofactor II deficiency, protein S deficiency, and protein C deficiency.

Pregnancy is not the only situation that can trigger a thrombotic event; other acquired or environmental conditions that can precipitate a thrombotic event include obesity, estrogen therapy, and oral contraceptive use, having a malignancy, diabetes mellitus, trauma, post-operative status, and lupus anticoagulant.

The test for factor V mutation has an accuracy of >99% and results are returned within 1 to 2 days. The test is able to determine the presence or absence of the mutation and can also distinguish between heterozygous or homozygous genotype.

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