What Is Factor X Deficiency?

Factor X deficiency is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by a defect or lack of a protein in the blood (factor X) which helps blood clot. The disorder is one of the rarest inherited clotting disorders. It affects one in 1,000,000 people. It is found more frequently in areas of the world where marriage between close relatives is common.

Factor X deficiency is passed from parent to child and is an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning that both parents must carry the defective gene in order to pass it on to their child and that it affects both males and females. The gene is found on chromosome 13.

Symptoms

Most people with factor X deficiency will not have symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they vary from person to person, and may include:

• nose bleeds
• heavy and prolonged bleeding during menstrual periods (menorrhagia)
• bleeding from umbilical cord stump at birth
• bleeding after circumcision
• abnormal or prolonged bleeding after childbirth
• first-trimester miscarriage (spontaneous abortion)
• bleeding in joints (hemarthroses)
• bleeding in soft tissues and muscles
• easy bruising
• bleeding in the gut (gastrointestinal bleeding)
• bleeding from the urinary tract
• bleeding during and after surgery
• bleeding after trauma (injury)

People with severe factor X deficiency can have serious bleeding episodes.

Diagnosis

Factor X deficiency is diagnosed by a variety of blood tests to see if the person has a bleeding disorder and, if so, to determine which one it is.

Treatment

Factor X deficiency is treated with:

• prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) containing factor X
• fresh frozen plasma (FFP)

Content reviewed by Dr. Paula Bolton-Maggs
Consultant Haemotologist
Manchester Haemophilia Comprehensive Care
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester, UK.

Updated December 2007