How Do You Get Factor V Leiden?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you have factor V Leiden, you

inherited either one copy or

, rarely, two copies of the defective gene. Inheriting one copy slightly increases your risk of developing blood clots. Inheriting two copies — one from each parent — significantly increases your risk of developing blood clots.

What gene causes Factor V Leiden?

A particular mutation

in the F5 gene

causes factor V Leiden thrombophilia. The F5 gene provides instructions for making a protein called coagulation factor V. This protein plays a critical role in the coagulation system, which is a series of chemical reactions that forms blood clots in response to injury.

What percentage of the population has Factor V Leiden?

How common is factor V Leiden (FVL)? In the U.S., FVL is present in approximately

5% of the general

population. It is less common in Native Americans and African-Americans than in those of Northern European ancestry. In some countries of Northern Europe, FVL is found in up to 10-15% of the population.

How can Factor V Leiden be prevented?

Since Factor V Leiden is an inherited condition,

there is no way to prevent it

. However, there are certain lifestyle changes one can make to reduce the risk of abnormal clot formation.

Are you born with Factor V Leiden?

People who have this mutation are

born

with it. One or both of your parents passed it on to you.

What is the difference between factor V deficiency and factor V Leiden?

Factor V deficiency is also known as Owren’s disease or parahemophilia. It’s a rare bleeding disorder that results in

poor clotting

after an injury or surgery. Factor V deficiency shouldn’t be confused with factor V Leiden mutation, a much more common condition that causes excessive blood clotting.

Should I take aspirin if I have factor V Leiden?

Though factor V Leiden alone does not seem to raise the risk of arterial clots, something as simple as

daily therapy with low-dose aspirin

may help prevent a heart attack or stroke in people with factor V Leiden if they have additional risk factors.

Can I donate blood if I have Factor V Leiden?

People with factor V Leiden may donate blood,

platelets or plasma safely

, as long as they are not on an anticoagulant such as warfarin. Only a very few medicines prevent people from donating blood.

Can Factor 5 Leiden skip a generation?

Can Factor V Leiden skip a generation?

No

… genetic mutations are passed from generation to generation because we receive our DNA from our parents.

Can I take ibuprofen if I have Factor V Leiden?

It is important that people with Factor V deficiency

should not use Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

(NSAIDs such as ibuprofen) as this greatly increases the risk of bleeding.

What foods should I avoid with factor V Leiden?

If you are taking warfarin (Coumadin), do not suddenly change the amount of

vitamin K

–rich foods you eat, such as broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, lettuce, and spinach. Vitamin K can interfere with the medicine.

Can you get rid of factor V Leiden?

Can Factor V Leiden be treated?

There is no treatment that can prevent this disorder or make it go away

. However, there are things that you can do to reduce your chances of developing a dangerous blood clot. You do need treatment with blood thinners if you have had a blood clot or develop one in the future.

Does factor V Leiden bruise easily?

The signs and symptoms of this condition can begin at any age, although the most severe cases are apparent in childhood. Factor V deficiency commonly causes nosebleeds;

easy bruising

; bleeding under the skin; bleeding of the gums; and prolonged or excessive bleeding following surgery, trauma, or childbirth.

Is Factor 5 Leiden an autoimmune disease?

APLAS is

an autoimmune disease

, causing the immune system to work too much and attack healthy parts of a child’s body. Like autoimmune diseases, APLAS runs in families, but there is not a specific gene for APLAS like factor V Leiden.

Are there different types of factor V Leiden?

At least 1 of the genes that you inherited is the mutated gene that makes the Factor V Leiden protein. If you inherited 1 Factor V Leiden gene from one parent, you have the

heterozygous type

of Factor V Leiden. from your other parent. In your body, you have 50% Factor V Leiden and 50% normal Factor V.

What does it mean to be heterozygous for Factor V Leiden?

Heterozygous means

that the 2 copies of a gene are different

. In your case, one of your Factor V gene codes is for normal clotting Factor V and the other Factor V gene code is for Factor V Leiden. There is more risk of a blood clot if both gene codes are for Factor V Leiden (ie in the homozygous state).

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.