Vitamin K Dependent Factor Deficiency

Vitamin K-Dependent Clotting Factor Deficiency is a very rare bleeding disorder.  This bleeding disorder happens when the body lacks an enzyme to process clotting factor proteins that are vitamin K dependent.  Vitamin K dependent clotting proteins include Factor II (2), Factor VII (7), Factor IX (9), Factor X (10) and Protein C and Protein S.  Clotting proteins are proteins that help the body stop bleeding.  In vitamin K-dependent clotting factor deficiency, it is harder for the body to stop bleeding and causes prolonged bleeding.

Treatment for Vitamin K-Dependent Clotting Factor Deficiency is Vitamin K.  Vitamin K comes in a liquid or tablet that you take by mouth.  It is given in the hopes that it improves the functioning of the enzyme responsible for processing Vitamin K-Dependent Clotting Factors: factor II (2), factor VII (7), factor IX (9) and factor X (10).   If this occurs, the clotting factors will be able to assist with the making of a blood clot to stop bleeding.

 

Fresh Frozen Plasma
In the event that a person with Vitamin K-Dependent Clotting Factor Deficiency has a severe injury that causes bleeding, needs surgery or major dental work, fresh frozen plasma may be needed to be given.  Fresh frozen plasma is a transfusion of donated plasma that is given in a vein.  It contains all clotting factors and will help the body to stop bleeding.

 

Amicar/Lysteda (Aminocaproic Acid/Tranexamic Acid)
Amicar and Lysteda are oral medications that work very well for bleeding of mucous membranes such as nose and mouth bleeding.  Lysteda is also used for heavy menstrual bleeding.  When bleeding occurs, the body tries to heal the area by making a clot that will plug the hole to stop bleeding. This clot will stay there for about four days.  After these four days, chemicals in the body are triggered to breakdown the clot. This is called fibrinolysis. Amicar and Lysteda are called anti-fibrinolytic medications because it stops fibrinolysis. A person with a bleeding disorder needs more time for healing because they cannot make a strong clot to heal the area of bleeding. Amicar and Lysteda stops the body from breaking the clot down.  This gives the blood vessels more time to completely heal and prevents prolonged bleeding and rebleeding.