ISSN 2169-3048
International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Vol. 1 (5), pp.167-170, July , 2012. © International Scholars Journals
Case Report
Factor VII deficiency presenting with an isolated prolonged prothrombin time:a case report
Nilgün Tekkeşin1, Kani Gemici2 Hüseyin Beköz3
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Memorial Hospital, Şişli, İstanbul, Turkey.
2Department of Cardiology, Memorial Hospital, Şişli, İstanbul, Turkey.
3Department of Hematology, Memorial Hospital, Şişli, İstanbul, Turkey.
*Corresponding Authors’ Email: [email protected]
Received July 07, 2012, Accepted July 25, 2012
Abstract
Introduction: Polycythemia, heparin, and direct thrombin inhibitor anticoagulants, as well as delays in testing, are important preanalytical variables that can cause prolonged prothrombin time results. Our aim is to make a contribution to the literature by reporting a case of Factor VII deficiency presenting with an isolated prothrombin time.Case Presentation: A 77-year-old Turkish man was evaluated for a prolonged prothrombin time. The patient had no history of gastrointestinal or intracranial bleeding, epistaxis, hemarthrosis or a tendency toward easy limb bruising. He had a negative family history of abnormal bleeding. Initial laboratory studies included findings within reference intervals for complete blood cell count and activated partial thromboplastin time (33.8 s, reference interval 24–36 s), prolonged prothrombin time (20.3 s, reference interval 12.0–16.0 s), and International Normalized Ratio (1.78, reference interval 0.8–1.2). Liver function tests were in reference ranges which excludes an existing liver disease. No preanalytical artifacts were identified, and the result of a repeat prothrombin time was also prolonged.
Conclusion: Factor VII deficiency should be evaluated in an unexpected prolonged prothrombin time, besides additional steps such as repeating the tests to take care to eliminate potential sources of preanalytical artifacts and mixing studies.
Keywords: Prothrombin time; activated partial thromboplastin time; coagulation; factor VII