Rare Factor Deficiencies
What Are Rare Bleeding Disorders?
In the US, a rare disease or disorder is defined as one that affects fewer than 200,000 people. This means hemophilia A and B, and the less-common factor deficiencies such as I, II, V, VII, X, XI, XII and XIII, are all rare disorders.
Blood clotting is a complex process, involving many different proteins, called factors, each of which plays a different role in the blood clotting process. Factor deficiencies are defined by which specific clotting protein in the blood protein is low, missing or doesn’t work properly.
These very rare factor deficiencies were all discovered and identified in the 20th century. The majority of these conditions were only identified within the last 60-70 years.
How Many People Have Rare Factor Deficiencies?
Factor I (1) Deficiency
Factor I deficiency is a collective term for three rare inherited fibrinogen deficiencies. One of these, afibrinogenemia is very rare, occurring in 1-2 people per million.
Factor II (2) Deficiency
Factor II deficiency is estimated to occur in 1 out of every 2 million people.
Factor V (5) Deficiency
Factor V deficiency is estimated to occur in 1 out of every 2 million people.
Factor VII (7) Deficiency
Factor VII deficiency is estimated to occur in 1 out of every 300,000-500,000 people. That makes it the most common of the rare factor deficiencies.
Factor X (10) Deficiency
Factor X deficiency is estimated to occur in 1 in 500,000 to 1 in a million people.
Factor XI (11) Deficiency (Hemophilia C)
Factor XI deficiency is estimated to occur in 1 in 100,000 people.
Factor XII (12)
Factor XII deficiency is estimated to occur in 1 in a million people.
Factor XIII (13) Deficiency
Factor XIII deficiency is estimated to occur in 1 in 5 million people. It is the rarest of the rare factor deficiencies.
How Are Rare Factor Deficiencies Treated?
How rare factor deficiencies are treated depends on the missing protein. Some can be treated with factor concentrates that replace the missing clotting factor. Others are treated with fresh frozen plasma, which is the liquid part of whole blood, or antifibrinolytics, which slow the breakdown of blood clots. Some do not require treatment at all. You can find specific details on the available treatments within the pages of this section. People with rare factor deficiencies can seek specialized care at a hemophilia treatment center (HTC.)
Support for People with Rare Factor Deficiencies
We are committed to offering education and support for all bleeding disorders. NBDF holds a Rare Bleeding Disorders conference every year, which allows people with rare factor deficiencies to learn more about managing their disorder and connect with people who share their experiences.
Platelet Disorders
Inherited platelet disorders are caused by defective (do not work correctly) platelets, low amounts of platelets in the blood, or both. Platelets, cells in the blood, begin to work in the blood stream when there is an injury to the blood vessel wall. They go to the site of the injury, become sticky and make a platelet plug to control bleeding.
The clotting factors then build a clot around the platelets to stop bleeding. Since the platelets have multiple functions in the blood, there are multiple ways they may not work correctly. Types of bleeding problems may include; easy bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, and prolonged bleeding with cuts and scratches.
Treatment depends on the type of platelet problem. The inheritance patterns vary based on the type of platelet disorder.