Factor X Deficiency

Updated: Mar 18, 2024
  • Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Perumal Thiagarajan, MD  more...
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Overview

Practice Essentials

Clotting factor X, or Stuart-Prower factor, is a vitamin K–dependent serine protease that serves as the first enzyme in the common pathway of thrombus formation. Factor X deficiency is a bleeding disorder that can be inherited or acquired. [1] This disorder is one of the world's most rare factor deficiencies.

Inherited factor X deficiency is autosomal recessive, with heterozygotes most often remaining asymptomatic or having only a mild bleeding tendency. [2] Patients with homozygous inherited factor X deficiency — which occurs in only about 1:1,000,000 individuals worldwide — may present as spontaneous life‐threatening hemorrhage (most often intracranial) during the first month of life. [3] Pedigree analysis of patients with congenital factor X deficiency often reveals consanguinity.

Acquired factor X deficiency can be caused by severe liver disease, vitamin K deficiency, or anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin. Factor X deficiency has also been reported in association with a variety of medical conditions, such systemic light-chain amyloidosis [4]  — particularly in advanced cases [5]  — and atypical chronic lymphoid leukemia. [6]

Treatment of factor X deficiency is individualized, but restoring circulating factor X levels to 10-40% of normal is usually adequate. Additionally, in patients with acquired factor X deficiency, treatment of the underlying cause may resolve the disorder.  Treatment options include factor X concentrate, fresh frozen plasma, and prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs). Vitamin K is ineffective in hereditary factor X deficiency but may be useful in certain acquired cases. In patients with acute onset of significant bleeding suggestive of newly acquired factor deficiency, immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroid therapy has been used while definitive identification of factor X deficiency is pending. [7] (See Treatment and Medication.)

For patient education information, see Bruises and Blood Spots Under the Skin and Bleeding Disorders.

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Background

In the 1950s, two independent groups first identified factor X deficiency. Telfer and colleagues reported a bleeding tendency in a 22-year-old woman named Prower in 1956 [8] ; Hougie and colleagues described abnormal coagulation profiles in a 36-year-old man named Stuart in 1957. [9] Experiments demonstrated that mixing plasma or serum from Stuart and Prower did not mutually correct the abnormality, thus showing that the two lacked an identical factor. Based on these common clotting test results, the factor was designated Stuart-Prower factor. This factor became known as factor X.

The human gene encoding factor X is primarily expressed in the liver and is located on the long arm of chromosome 13, just downstream from the gene for factor VII. [10, 11] It is composed of 8 exons and contains 22 kilobases of DNA. [12] The gene encodes the following [13] :

  • A signal region
  • A propeptide region
  • A glutamic acid domain
  • An "aromatic stack" region
  • Two regions homologous to epidermal growth factor
  • A catalytic domain

The enzyme gamma-glutamyl carboxylase, in the presence of vitamin K, converts the glutamic acid residues to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues. These gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues are necessary for the binding of prothrombin to phospholipids on platelet membranes.

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Pathophysiology

In the blood coagulation cascade, factor X is cleaved to form factor Xa, an active serine protease. As the first step in the common pathway to thrombus formation, factor X can be activated by products of both the intrinsic and extrinsic clotting cascades. Activation by the extrinsic pathway occurs via the complex of tissue factor and factor VIIa. Activation by the intrinsic pathway occurs via the interaction of factor IXa and factor VIIIa. Both pathways of activation require the presence of calcium ions and a phospholipid surface.

Once formed, factor Xa is then responsible for the conversion of prothrombin to its active form, thrombin, which is responsible for activating fibrinogen and allowing clot formation. It also functions in a positive feedback loop by activating factor V, factor VII, and factor VIII. Factor Xa can suppress the coagulation cascade by inactivating both factor VIII and tissue factor. Factor Xa is ultimately inactivated by forming a complex with antithrombin, which then undergoes hepatic clearance.

Factor X deficiency may arise because of reduced synthesis of the protein, which is known as type I deficiency state, or because of production of a dysfunctional molecule, which is known as type II deficiency state. Authorities believe that a complete absence of factor X is incompatible with life. Studies of knockout mice have revealed a lethal phenotype, with death occurring in utero or within a few days of birth. [14]

Congenital factor X deficiency

A number of specific mutations have been reported. [15, 16]  Identified mutations include Gly366Ser, Arg347His, Phe31Ser, Gly133Arg, Val196Met, Gly204Arg, Glu51Lys, and Cys364Arg. [17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23] Mutations in the Gla-domain of factor X, a 39 residue peptide that is part of its light chain, have been documented in at least 15 cases of factor X deficiency. [24]  Most often, missense mutations are the cause of congenital factor X deficiency. [15, 25]

In a Japanese patient with factor X deficiency, molecular analysis revealed a homozygous glutamine-to-glycine mutation at residue 32, which normally undergoes gamma-carboxylation within the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid–rich domain. [26] A factor X–deficient woman from France was identified as homozygous for a mutation in exon VIII, resulting in the substitution of serine 334 by proline. [27] This mutation is probably responsible for altering the orientation of the cleavage site of factor X, preventing activation of the molecule. Other reported consequences of this mutation include interference with protein folding, disruption of disulfide bonds, and inhibition of factor binding sites.

Factor X has a natural variant carrying the Asp-185 deletion. Paradoxically, this variant may be associated with only mild bleeding despite a severe factor X deficiency. [28]

Acquired factor X deficiency

Acquired factor X deficiency has a variety of possible etiologies. Because factor X is synthesized in the liver, severe hepatic disease can have a dramatic impact on protein levels. Vitamin K deficiency can also result in decreased factor X levels. In general, liver disease and insufficient vitamin K levels produce deficiencies of several clotting factors, not just factor X.

Vitamin K is produced by enteric flora, and vitamin K levels can be reduced by intestinal malabsorption, bile duct obstruction, or antibiotic administration. Vitamin K deficiency can also be iatrogenically induced by the administration of propylthiouracil or vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin. Vitamin K deficiency can also be observed in neonates.

Acquired factor X deficiency has been reported in association with a number of other medical conditions. Factor X deficiency occurs in an estimated 8% of patients with amyloidosis, including immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis. [4, 13, 29, 30, 31] Factor X deficiency in amyloidosis results from binding of factor X to deposited amyloid fibrils. [32, 33]

Factor X deficiency has also been reported in association with myeloma, presumably because of binding of the protein to circulating light chains. [34] Acquired factor X deficiency has also been reported in association with leukemia and other neoplastic processes. [35, 36, 37]

Decreases in factor X levels have also been noted in association with the following:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection [38]
  • Lupus anticoagulant [39]
  • Sodium valproate administration [40]
  • Upper respiratory tract infection [41]
  • Leprosy [42]
  • Severe burns in a child [43]
  • Topical thrombin administration [44]

Acquired cases may result from the production of neutralizing or non-neutralizing antibodies to factor X. Neutralizing antibodies inactivate factor X by binding at its functional site. Non-neutralizing antibodies bind to factor X at a non-functional site, facilitating its elimination from the plasma. In patients with non-neutralizing antibodies (unlike those with neutralizing antibodies), cross-mixing tests often show a factor deficiency pattern. [45, 7]

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Etiology

Factor X deficiency may be hereditary or acquired. Congenital factor X deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder.

The most common causes of acquired factor X deficiency include the following:

  • Liver disease
  • Vitamin K deficiency
  • Vitamin K antagonist use
  • Amyloidosis
  • Neoplasm
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Epidemiology

Frequency

Congenital factor X deficiency is among the most rare factor disorders, affecting an estimated one individual per 500,000-1,000,000 population worldwide. [46]   The prevalence of factor X deficiency in the United States presumably mirrors international rates.

Mortality/morbidity

Congenital factor X deficiency is a lifelong bleeding disorder. Cases of both fatal and nonfatal perinatal and infant intracranial hemorrhages have been reported. [3, 47, 48] Death can occur owing to massive hemorrhage resulting from trauma. Hemorrhage can also occur as a result of surgery if proper precautions are not taken. Disabling hemarthroses can also occur.

Race-, sex-, and age-related demographics

Factor X deficiency has no known racial or ethnic predilection. Males and females are equally affected.

Patients with congenital factor X deficiency can present at any age. Generally, patients with more severe cases present during infancy. Acquired forms may affect persons of any age group.

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Prognosis

The prognosis for patients with factor X deficiency depends on the etiology and severity of the disease. Although acquired factor X deficiency may be eliminated by treating the underlying cause, the congenital form of the disease is lifelong and is among the most severe clotting factor disorders. In general, patients with very low levels of functional factor X have a greater tendency to hemorrhage and face a greater risk of life-threatening complications. [49]

In a survey of 30 patients with hereditary factor X deficiency, the patients reported low well-being in work/school/social activities.  About half of the patients received treatment with single factor replacement as prophylaxis or on demand, and about one quarter received treatment with fresh frozen plasma. [50]

Factor X deficiency can have noteworthy effects on pregnancy. In one survey, intrauterine growth restriction was noted in four women. [51]

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