Combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII

What it is

From: Orphanet

A rare inherited bleeding disorder due to the reduction in activity and antigen levels of both factor V (FV) and factor VIII (FVIII) and characterized by mild-to-moderate bleeding symptoms.

Reported clinical features and what the terms mean

The following findings are associated with this condition in Orphanet. They are not a checklist for diagnosing yourself, and they do not all occur in every affected person. Some are examination, imaging or laboratory findings that cannot be recognised at home.

The frequency labels describe how often a finding was reported among people with the condition in the source. They do not give the chance that a person with that symptom has the condition. Definitions below reproduce HPO terminology; they explain the term, not the likely severity in an individual.

Prolonged partial thromboplastin time · Very frequent (99-80%)

Increased time to coagulation in the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test, a measure of the intrinsic and common coagulation pathways. Phospholipid, and activator, and calcium are mixed into an anticoagulated plasma sample, and the time is measured until a thrombus forms.

Prolonged prothrombin time · Very frequent (99-80%)

Increased time to coagulation in the prothrombin time test, which is a measure of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. The results of the prothrombin time test are often expressed in terms of the International normalized ratio (INR), which is calculated as a ratio of the patient's prothrombin time (PT) to a control PT standardized for the potency of the thromboplastin reagent developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) using the formula: INR is equal to Patient PT divided by Control PT.

Reduced coagulation factor V activity · Very frequent (99-80%)

Decreased activity of coagulation factor V.

Reduced factor VIII activity · Very frequent (99-80%)

Reduced activity of coagulation factor VIII. Factor VIII (fVIII) is a cofactor in the intrinsic clotting cascade that is activated to fVIIIa in the presence of minute quantities of thrombin. fVIIIa acts as a receptor, for factors IXa and X.

Bleeding with minor or no trauma · Frequent (79-30%)

Significant bleeding or hemorrhage without significant precipitating factor.

Bruising susceptibility · Frequent (79-30%)

An ecchymosis (bruise) refers to the skin discoloration caused by the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels. This term refers to an abnormally increased susceptibility to bruising. The corresponding phenotypic abnormality is generally elicited on medical history as a report of frequent ecchymoses or bruising without adequate trauma.

Epistaxis · Frequent (79-30%)

Epistaxis, or nosebleed, refers to a hemorrhage localized in the nose.

Gingival bleeding · Frequent (79-30%)

Hemorrhage affecting the gingiva.

Prolonged bleeding after dental extraction · Frequent (79-30%)

Prolonged bleeding post dental extraction sufficient to require medical intervention.

Prolonged bleeding following circumcision · Frequent (79-30%)

Bleeding that persists for a longer than usual time following circumcision.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage · Occasional (29-5%)

Hemorrhage affecting the gastrointestinal tract.

Hematuria · Occasional (29-5%)

The presence of blood in the urine. Hematuria may be gross hematuria (visible to the naked eye) or microscopic hematuria (detected by dipstick or microscopic examination of the urine).

Intracranial hemorrhage · Occasional (29-5%)

Hemorrhage occurring within the skull.

Joint hemorrhage · Occasional (29-5%)

Hemorrhage occurring within a joint.

Other findings in the same source

From: Orphanet

Additional reported features include Menorrhagia (Occasional (29-5%)); Prolonged bleeding after surgery (Occasional (29-5%)); Hyperlipidemia (Very rare (<4-1%)); Hyperuricemia (Very rare (<4-1%)). This is a selected summary, not a complete description of the condition.

When it may begin

From: Orphanet

All ages

Inheritance in the source

From: Orphanet

Autosomal recessive

Frequency and the population described

From: Orphanet

Point prevalence: 1-9 / 1 000 000; Europe; Value and class. Point prevalence: 1-9 / 100 000; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Value and class.

Understanding the inheritance label

From: MedlinePlus Genetics

An autosomal recessive pattern usually involves disease-causing changes in both copies of a gene. Parents may each carry one altered copy without having the condition themselves. A genetic counsellor can explain carrier testing and reproductive implications using the actual laboratory findings, rather than the condition name alone.

Which doctor should you see?

The suggested department for discussing Combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII is Haematology, with a haematologist as the relevant type of clinician. General physician / Family Medicine; paediatrician for children. Referral depends on symptoms.

Additional services that may be relevant, depending on the findings, include: Clinical Genetics.

This is an editorial referral starting point. The appropriate clinic depends on the person’s age, symptoms, previous diagnosis and local services. The first clinician can decide whether another specialty or a team is needed; a department label does not confirm the diagnosis.

How to prepare for an assessment

Bring a short timeline of the main symptoms: when they first appeared, whether they are constant or episodic, what seems to change them, and how they affect daily activities. Include previous reports, discharge summaries, current medicines and supplements, allergies, and any relevant family history. A dated record is more useful than trying to match every feature in an online article.

Ask the clinician what is already established and what remains uncertain. If a test is suggested, ask what question it answers, what its limitations are and how the result would change the next step. The information here is not an instruction to arrange every possible test. In children, bring growth, developmental and school information if it is relevant to the concern.

• Which blood-cell, marrow, bleeding or clotting finding matters most?
• Does the diagnosis need confirmation or a more precise subtype?
• Which symptoms or laboratory changes should trigger earlier review?

Treatment discussions and follow-up

The material gathered for this draft does not provide a complete condition-specific treatment pathway for Combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII. That gap does not mean that treatment is unavailable. A clinician needs to establish the diagnosis and review current guidance before recommending medicines, procedures, rehabilitation or other support.

Before leaving the appointment, clarify the next review date, who will communicate results, and whom to contact if the situation changes. Discuss difficulties with sleep, work, school, mobility, eating or emotional wellbeing when these are relevant. Practical support may require coordination between the treating clinician and other services.

The collected references do not establish a complete prevention or long-term outlook section for this entry. Missing information should not be interpreted as proof that prevention is impossible or that a particular outcome is inevitable. Ask what is known for the exact subtype, stage and personal circumstances, and which uncertainties remain.

When to seek emergency help

Severe breathing difficulty, collapse, new stroke-like symptoms, a seizure that is prolonged or repeated without recovery, uncontrolled major bleeding, or an immediate risk of self-harm require emergency help. In India, call 112 or reach the nearest emergency department. This is a general, non-exhaustive warning list; it is not a condition-specific triage tool.