Factor XIII deficiency, a rare coagulopathy: case reports

Introduction: Hereditary Factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive hemostatic disorder with an estimated incidence of one case per two million individuals and a higher prevalence in descendants of consanguineous relationships. Possible clinical manifestations include intracranial hemorrhage, umbilical cord bleeding at birth, hematoma, spontaneous abortions, and menometrorrhagia. Objective: To highlight the peculiarities of this hemostatic disorder, as well as the recommended management. Case Report: The authors describe two cases of FXIII deficiency with different hemorrhagic manifestations. Case 1 presented extensive spontaneous hematoma in the right thigh, while Case 2 had umbilical cord bleeding at birth and intracranial hemorrhage, requiring hemotherapy support. Both patients had normal results in screening laboratory tests for coagulation disorders. Coagulation factor serum levels and diagnostic assessments identified mild Factor XIII deficiency in Case 1 and severe deficiency in Case 2. The patient in Case 1 is under regular control and follow-up, while the patient in Case 2 is on a monthly prophylactic regimen with FXIII infusion. Conclusion: The diagnosis of FXIII deficiency in patients with significant bleeding should be considered if screening coagulation tests are normal. The Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis has established an algorithm for laboratory diagnosis and identification of different forms of FXIII deficiency. Quantitative determination of FXIII activity, antigenic assays, and molecular studies are necessary.