Screening Laboratory Test Results and Treatment of Inherited Blood Coagulation Defects

Screening Test Results*

Defect

Comments

PTT long

PT normal

Factor XII, high molecular weight kininogen, or prekallikrein

Laboratory test abnormality without clinical bleeding

Specific assays required to distinguish from factor XI deficiency, in which posttraumatic and perioperative bleeding may occur

No treatment required

PTT long

PT normal

Factor XI

Autosomal recessive

Increased frequency in patients of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry

Posttraumatic and perioperative bleeding

Diagnosis by specific factor assay

Plasma factor XI half-life = 50 hours

PTT long

PT normal

Factor VIII or IX

Factor VIII deficiency (hemophilia A)

Factor IX deficiency (hemophilia B)

X-linked transmission

Mild or severe bleeding in males, depending on factor VIII or factor IX level

For treatment of bleeding: factor replacement

Plasma factor VIII half-life = 8–12 hours

Plasma factor IX half-life = 18 hours

PTT normal

PT long

Factor VII

Autosomal recessive, rare

Diagnosed by specific factor assay

For treatment of bleeding: Recombinant activated factor VII or plasma-derived factor VII concentrate

Plasma factor VII half-life = 4–6 hours

PTT long

PT long

Factor X, V, or prothrombin

Autosomal recessive, rare

Mild to severe bleeding

Diagnosed by specific assays

For treatment of bleeding due to factor X or prothrombin deficiency:

  • Fresh frozen plasma

  • Plasma-derived factor X concentrate

For treatment of bleeding due to factor V deficiency: Fresh frozen plasma with or without platelet concentrates (to supply platelet factor V)

Plasma half-life of factor X = 40–60 hours

Plasma half-life of prothrombin = 60–72 hours

Plasma half-life of factor V = 36 hours

In afibrinogenemia (fibrinogen < 10 mg/dL [< 0.1 g/L]), no clotting in PTT or PT because machine end point is not triggered

Fibrinogen

Severe bleeding in afibrinogenemia (homozygous state)

Posttraumatic and perioperative bleeding in hypofibrinogenemia (heterozygous state)

For treatment of bleeding:

  • Cryoprecipitate (contains fibrinogen, as well as the VWF–factor VIII complex and factor XIII)

  • Fresh-frozen plasma

Plasma half-life of fibrinogen = 2–4 days

PTT and PT long

Dysfibrinogenemia

Various manifestations (no, or only mild, posttraumatic and perioperative bleeding, tendency for thrombosis, wound dehiscence)

Fibrinogen low in clotting assay but normal in immunologic assay

PTT normal

PT normal

Factor XIII

Autosomal recessive, rare

Poor wound healing

Spontaneous abortion

For treatment of bleeding:

  • Recombinant factor XIII A chain

  • Cryoprecipitate (contains factor XIII)

  • Fresh frozen plasma

Plasma half-life of factor XIII = 9–12 days

PTT and PT normal

Alpha 2-antiplasmin deficiency

Severe bleeding in homozygotes

Posttraumatic and perioperative bleeding in heterozygotes

Specific assay required for confirmation of diagnosis

* PT results are typically reported as INR.

PT = prothrombin time; PTT = partial thromboplastin time.