Reproductive health and hemostatic issues in women and girls with congenital factor VII deficiency: A systematic review

The History of Rare Bleeding Disorders

Deficiencies in coagulation factors I (FI), FII, FV, combined FV and FVIII (CF5F8) and vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors FVII, FX, FXI, and FXIII have been referred to as rare bleeding disorders (RBDs), rare coagulation factor deficiencies (RCFDs), or recessively inherited coagulation disorders. Fibrinogen was most likely the first member of this group to be identified, with reports of its discovery spanning from 1859 to 1966. If not, then the first coagulation factor to be identified was prothrombin in 1894, and the last coagulation factor to be found was FX in 1956, about 60 years later. The first patient to be diagnosed with an RBD was a 9-year-old boy with afibrinogenemia in 1920 and the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors deficiency was the most recent RBD in this group to be identified in a 3-month-old child in 1966. The initial therapeutic option for nearly all patients with RBDs was whole blood transfusion; this was replaced in 1941 by fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and then in later years by cryoprecipitate and coagulation factor concentrates. Fibrinogen concentrate was the first coagulation factor concentrate produced in 1956. Coagulation factor concentrate is now available for FI, FVII, FX, FXI, and FXIII; however, FFP and/or platelet transfusion are the only treatments available for FV deficiency. The only recombinant concentrates available for RBDs are for FVII and FXIII, which date from 1988 and the 2000s, respectively. Even though the clinical presentations, diagnosis, and management of lesser-known bleeding disorders have improved significantly in recent decades, more studies are needed to reveal the hidden aspects of these disorders in order to overcome diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and ultimately improve the quality of life for those who are affected.

Clinical, Laboratory, and Molecular Aspects of Factor VII Deficiency

Congenital factor VII (FVII) deficiency, the most frequent among the recessively inherited disorders of blood coagulation, is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, from mild mucosal bleeds to life-threatening intracranial hemorrhage. Complete FVII deficiency may cause perinatal lethality. Clinically relevant thresholds of plasma levels are still uncertain, and modest differences in low FVII levels are associated with large differences in clinical phenotypes. Activated FVII (FVIIa) expresses its physiological protease activity only in a complex with tissue factor (TF), which triggers clotting at a very low concentration. Knowledge of the FVIIa-TF complex helps to interpret the clinical findings associated with low FVII activity as compared with other rare bleeding disorders and permits effective management, including prophylaxis, with recombinant FVIIa, which, however, displays a short half-life. Newly devised substitutive and nonsubstitutive treatments, characterized by extended half-life properties, may further improve the quality of life of patients. Genetic diagnosis has been performed in thousands of patients with FVII deficiency, and among the heterogeneous F7 mutations, mostly missense changes, several recurrent variants show geographical distribution and identity by descent. In the general population, common F7 polymorphisms explain a large proportion of FVII level variance in plasma through FVII-lowering effects. Their combination with pathogenic variants may impact on the frequent detection of FVII coagulant levels lower than normal, as well as on mild bleeding conditions. In the twenties of this century, 70 years after the first report of FVII deficiency, more than 200 studies/reports about FVII/FVII deficiency have been published, with thousands of FVII-deficient patients characterized all over the world.

Rare inherited coagulation disorders: no longer orphan and neglected

Rare inherited coagulation disorders due to the deficiency or dysfunction of coagulation factors have until recently received less clinical attention than hemophilias and von Willebrand disease. This situation has changed in the last decades, mainly due to therapeutic progress with the availability of more and safer products for replacement therapy produced by plasma fractionation or recombinant DNA technology. This narrative review, based on the latest literature and expert opinion, emphasizes the progress achieved for each of the rare deficiencies, mentions the still unmet therapeutic needs, and sketches the perspectives for further progress.

Surgery in rare bleeding disorders: the prospective MARACHI study

Background

Despite the wide use of bleeding scores and the reliability of clotting factor level measurement, bleeding risk stratification before surgery remains challenging in patients with rare inherited bleeding disorders.

Objectives

This multicenter observational prospective study assessed in patients with rare coagulation factor deficiency, the perioperative hemostatic management choices by hemostasis experts and the bleeding outcomes after surgery.

Methods

One hundred seventy-eight patients with low coagulation activity level (factor [F] II, FV, combined FV-FVIII, FVII, FX, or FXI <50%) underwent 207 surgical procedures. The bleeding outcome, Tosetto's bleeding score, and perioperative hemostatic protocols were collected.

Results

Among the 81 procedures performed in patients with severe factor deficiency (level ≤10%), 27 were done without factor replacement (including 6 in patients at high bleeding risk), without any bleeding event. Factor replacement therapy was used mainly for orthopedic procedures. In patients with mild deficiency, 100/126 surgical procedures were carried out without perioperative hemostatic treatment. In patients with FVII or FXI deficiency, factor replacement therapy was in function of the procedure, bleeding risk, and to a lesser extent previous bleeding history. Tranexamic acid was used in almost half of the procedures, particularly in case of surgery in tissues with high fibrinolytic activity (76.8%).

Conclusions

The current perioperative hemostatic management of patients with rare bleeding disorders appears to be adapted. Among the 207 procedures, only 6 were associated with excessive bleeding. Our findings suggest that rather than the bleeding score, factor level and surgery type are the most relevant criteria for perioperative factor replacement therapy.

Clotting Factor Deficiencies as an Underlying Cause of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Women of Reproductive Age: A Literature Review

Clotting Factor deficiencies are rare disorders with variations in clinical presentation and severity of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to mild to life-threatening bleeding. Thus, they pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, mainly for the primary health care providers, general practitioners, and gynecologists who are more likely to first encounter these patients. An additional diagnostic challenge arises from the variable laboratory presentations, as PT, PTT, and BT are not always affected. The morbidity is higher among women of reproductive age since Abnormal Uterine Bleeding-specifically Heavy Menstrual Bleeding-is one of the most prevalent manifestations of these disorders, and in some cases of severe deficiencies has led to life-threatening episodes of bleeding requiring blood transfusions or even immediate surgical intervention. Physician awareness is important as, in the case of some of these disorders-i.e., Factor XIII deficiency-prophylactic treatment is available and recommended. Although uncommon, the potential for rare bleeding disorders and for hemophilia carrier states should be considered in women with HMB, after more prevalent causes have been excluded. Currently, there is no consensus on the management of women in these instances and it is reliant on the physicians' knowledge.

Reproductive health and hemostatic issues in women and girls with congenital factor VII deficiency: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Congenital factor VII (FVII) deficiency is an inherited bleeding disorder, with heterogenous bleeding symptoms. Women with FVII deficiency face hemostatic challenges during menstruation, ovulation, and childbirth. This systematic review evaluated prevalence and management of bleeding symptoms associated with gynecological and obstetric issues in women with FVII deficiency.

METHODS

Databases (BIOSIS Previews, Current Contents Search, Embase, and MEDLINE) were searched for studies reporting FVII deficiency and gynecological or obstetric issues in women. Articles were screened using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists and relevant data extracted.

RESULTS

One hundred fourteen women were identified from 62 publications. Forty-six women had severe deficiency (FVII:C < 5% or <5 IU/dl). Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) was the most common bleeding symptom (n = 94; 82%); hospitalization and urgent medical/surgical interventions for acute HMB episodes were required in 16 women (14%). Seven women reported ovarian bleeding (6%); other bleeding symptoms varied. Patient management was inconsistent and included hemostatic and hormonal treatments. Only four women (7%) reporting vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) occurred following 12/45 deliveries (27%; 5 [42%] requiring blood transfusion) and was not necessarily prevented by prophylaxis (8 women).

CONCLUSION

Women with congenital FVII deficiency have an increased risk of HMB, ovarian bleeding, and PPH, impacting quality of life. Recognition of a bleeding disorder as the cause is often delayed. Management of bleeding complications is heterogeneous due to lack of treatment guidelines. Harmonizing severity classification of FVII deficiency may help standardize treatment strategies and development of specific guidelines for these women.