FACTOR V LEIDEN DEFICIENCY

Course overview

FACTOR V LEIDEN (FVL) IS A POINT MUTATION OF FACTOR V RESULTING IN AN ELIMINATION OF CLEAVAGE SITE IN FACTOR V AND FACTOR VA. THIS GENETIC DEFECT LEADS TO AN INCREASED RISK OF THROMBOSIS ESPECIALLY IN HOMOZYGOUS OR PSEUDO-HOMOZYGOUS FVL MUTATIONS. MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH THE MUTATION WILL NEVER DEVELOP A VENOUS THROMBOTIC EVENT (VTE). THE DECISION ABOUT VTE RISK REDUCTION (BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AND PREVENTION OF RECURRENCE) REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF CLINICAL ACUMEN, GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO CARRY THE MUTATION WILL NEVER HAVE VTE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CAUSE OF FACTOR V LEIDEN DEFICIENCY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.