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Factor II deficiency

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• Symptoms
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Definition:

Factor II deficiency is a blood clotting (coagulation) problem caused by a lack of a substance (prothrombin) that is needed for blod to clot.

Alternative Names:

Hypoprothrombinemia; Prothrombin deficiency

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

When you bleed, the body launches a series of activities that help the blood clot. This is called the coagulation cascade. The process involves special proteins called coagulation factors . (Factor II is a coagulation factor.) Each factor's reaction triggers the next reaction. The final product of the coagulation cascade is the blood clot .

When certain coagulation factors are too low or missing, the chain reaction does not take place normally. In this disorder, bleeding ranges from mild to severe.

A congenital factor II deficiency is a very rare disorder that runs in families (inherited). It results in poor blood clotting. Both parents must be carriers to pass it to their children. A family history of a bleeding disorder is a risk factor.

Acquired factor II deficiency is common and results from a lack (deficiency) of vitamin K , severe liver disease , and use of drugs that prevent clotting (anticoagulants). Risk factors for vitamin K deficiency are long-term use of antibiotics, bile duct obstruction , and poor absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract (intestinal malabsorption ). Some newborns are born with vitamin K deficiency.

References:

Hoffman R, Benz E, Shattil S, Furie B, Cohen H. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice . 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone; 2004.

McPherson RA, Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods . 21st ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2006: 741.

• Review Date: 3/13/2007
• Reviewed By: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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