A stroke is defined as a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain. There are two types of strokes. Ischemic stroke is caused by the arteries being blocked. Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a blood vessel bursting causing bleeding in the brain. Stroke symptoms include unsteadiness, numbness and tingling in the face and extremities, sudden impairment of vision and sudden impairment of speech. Depending on which part of the brain was damaged, the stroke victim may require long term therapy to recover. Some people possess the Factor V Leiden gene, which greatly increases the risk of stroke as well as the ability to recover from stroke.
What Is Factor V Leiden?
Factor V Leiden is a hereditary condition that causes the blood to clot in an abnormal manner. Factor V alone is present in every human being. The job of factor V is to cause the blood to clot when you are bleeding. If the Leiden mutation is present, the blood will clot inside of the body, potentially causing an ischemic stroke. This rapid and inappropriate clotting is called hyper-coagulation.
Testing for Factor V Leiden
Factor V Leiden is rarely found outside of the Caucasian population. Any Caucasian presenting with symptoms of stroke should be tested for Factor V Leiden. The first blood test the doctor will run is a simple blood test that measures whether the Factor V gene is reacting with proteins in the blood to clot appropriately. If this coagulation test reveals that the patient is over clotting, a DNA test for the Leiden mutation will either confirm the speculation or rule it out. If it is confirmed, the patient diagnosis will be Factor V Leiden Thrombophilia. Thrombophilia is a generic term for a person who is likely to develop serious blood clots.
Family Planning
Couples in which either partner is diagnosed with Factor V Leiden must decide if they should start a family. Thrombophilia presents a danger to the mother as well as the child. During pregnancy, blood supply is increased as well as the opportunity for a clot to develop. If the pregnancy is further complicated by toxemia, the risk for stroke is extremely high. Also, bleeding will occur during the birth of a child regardless of whether the birth is vaginal or by C-section. The recovery time also prevents the mother from moving around, which gives blood clots an opportunity to develop. Stillbirth is another unfortunate result of the presence of Factor V Leiden.
The child of parents with Factor V Leiden will most likely inherit this dominant gene mutation. People with Factor V Leiden can enjoy healthy and active lifestyles. However, tests should be done on the baby as soon as possible to diagnose or rule out Factor V Leiden so that the child can receive appropriate treatment in the event of an emergency.
Medical Treatment of Factor V Leiden
Doctors commonly prescribe the blood thinner Coumadin to treat Factor V Leiden. It is widely debated whether coumadin should be taken as part of the daily regime or only during a clotting episode. The pros and cons should be discussed with the patient's doctor so he can make an informed decision.
Other blood thinners include wine, aspirin and certain herbs. These should be avoided while taking coumadin.
Lifestyle Changes
A patient with Factor V Leiden should always carry coumadin. The patient should not lead a sedentary lifestyle as obesity and sitting for long periods of time can cause clotting and, potentially, stroke. Sodium levels in the body must be balanced. Coumadin promotes urination, and the patient will lose sodium. If the patient's sodium levels are too high, blood pressure will increase as well as the risk of stroke. Activities that increase the risk of stroke such as smoking, amphetamine use and cocaine use must be stopped immediately.
Patients with Factor V Leiden should be encouraged to join support groups. Talking with others who have the same illness helps the patient know she is not alone.
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