Factor XIII deficiency – Clinical features, Diagnosis
Clinical features of Factor XIII deficiency
- History of prolonged bleeding from umbilical stump
- Delayed bleeding
- Recurrent abortions
Diagnosis (Investigations)
- Prothrombin time and Activated partial thromboplastin time are normal
- Factor XIII is needed for stabilization of fibrin clot
- Intrinsic and extrinsic pathways are not affected
- Clot stability in 5M urea – qualitative test
- Normal clot remains stable in 5M urea
- But in cases of Factor XIII deficiency, the clot dissolves
- But it becomes positive only in very severe deficiency
- Quantitative factor XIII assay – using photometry
