A Member of the University of Maryland Medical System | In Partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Parahemophilia; Owren's disease
Factor V deficiency is an inherited condition that affects the ability of the blood to clot.
Normal blood coagulation is a complex process involving as many as 20 different proteins in blood plasma, which are known as blood coagulation factors. A series of complex chemical reactions using these factors takes place very rapidly to form a protein called fibrin, which stops bleeding.
Factor V deficiency is caused by a lack of the plasma protein Factor V. When certain coagulation factors are low or missing, the chain reaction does not take place normally. Factor V deficiency is rare, and can be caused by inheriting a defective Factor V gene or by acquiring an antibody that interferes with normal Factor V function.
You can acquire an inhibitor of Factor V:
Sometimes the cause is unknown.
The disease is similar to hemophilia, except bleeding into joints is less common. In the inherited form of Factor V deficiency, a family history of a bleeding disorder is a risk factor.
Excessive bleeding with menstrual periods and after delivery often occurs. Men and women are affected equally. About 1 person per 1 million has the disorder.
Asselta R, Tenchini ML, Duga S. Inherited defects of coagulation Factor V: the hemorrhagic side. J Thromb Haemost. 2006 Jan;4(1):26-34.
Kessler CM. Hemorrhagic disorders: coagulation factor deficiencies. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 180.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885