Factor V Leiden

[golden]

Does anyone carry this gene?
My father has a blood clot and after blood work, found out he carries 2 genes that increase the chance of blood clotting. After going for blood work myself, this summer, I found out I carry one of those genes- factor v leiden.
I have to see a hematologist, but just wanted to see if anyone else was familiar with this.
My primary doctor and gyno said I would most likely be high risk once I get pregnant one day and even have to have injections?! OY!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am not very familiar with this particular disorder, but DNA is a major part of my master''s studies, so here is what I can tell you.
I don''t know how much you know, but here is what little I can tell you from scanning the medical journals.

DNA has 4 "letters" which represent different types of proteins. In many genetic disorders, like yours or sickle cell anemia, one of the letters gets switched which causes a whole host of problems. In this case, it prevents your body from breaking down the "c" protien which causes excessive clotting.
Estrogen does make it worse, so be careful about birth control pills and that is also why preganancy is dangereous. I shouls also warn you that people with this gene are more likely to have misscarriges, but most women with it can carry healthy babies to term with medical help.

Although this is a genetic disorder and it is dominant, it is not tied to sex which means your children only have a 50/50 chance of getting it. If it were on the sex chromosomes and you had a son, he would have a 100% chance of having it.

The other thing is that research is indicating that most genetic disorders like this have an evolutionary advantage against other diseases or problems. For examle, sickle cell anemia protects against malaria and a particular genetic immunity to either the plague or smallpox (it is still being debated) also protects against HIV so although they may not have found it yet, there is a real chance that there is an advantage to this gene as well.

 

[Gemma12]

Hi Golden,

I''m sorry this has happened to your family. Is your dad okay?

There is a website which has been set up to give info to people with the condition:

http://www.fvleiden.org/

Essentially it is a ''Leiden'' mutation (or change) to factor five, a blood clotting protein, which results in blood clotting more readily. Pregnancy is a situation where your blood is more prone to clot (due to changes influenced by the placenta, among other things) so this increases the risk of a blood clot. In some cases your OBGYN will start you on blood thinning injections to prevent miscarriage or thrombosis (clot) or embolism (clot travelling to another part of your body). Many women will remain asymptomatic until pregnancy when they may have multiple miscarriages before this problem is diagnosed.

Do you know if you have two copies or one copy? Two copies is higher risk (of developing clots) than one copy. The genetics is not an absolute indication of getting the ''disease'' (clots) in this case either, so a) having one copy may not influence your life at all, except for medication when you are otherwise at high risk of clots, and b) passing it on to kids may not influence theirs. Any kids you have would have a 50% chance of getting that gene from you if the other one you have is normal.

Good luck with the hematologist!

 

[golden]

Both your replies made more sense then anything I have read AHAHA so thank you!!!
I am going to make a phone call Monday to get a copy of my blood work, as I do not know any else then having factor v leiden.
I don't speak to my father much, when he fould out about this, he emailed me because his doctor told him I needed to know especially if I was on BC. which I was. I had been on and off, mostly on, for 6 or 7 years. My gyno told me to go off of it as soon as the blood work came back.
Eventually, I want to have children, I can't believe there could be such complications. I read up on this the very first day.

My father carries 2 genes, I don't know what the other gene is, it was very long. He has been on coumadin since they found the blood clot. I believe he is pretty lucky, he is almost 60 and travels A LOT and this has only come upon him now.

 

[Cind11]

My DH has Factor V Leiden. I believe it is just one gene that is affected. It was discovered after bloodwork done when he developed pulmonary emboli. He will be on Coumadin the rest of his life. I do worry about my daughters having this.

Good luck.