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Post-Transplant Complications

Acquired factor VII deficiency in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 29, pages 403–408 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Acquired factor VII (FVII) deficiency in the absence of vitamin K deficiency, oral anticoagulant therapy, synthetic liver dysfunction, or DIC is rare, with only a handful of cases thus far reported. In the period from 1990 to 1996 we identified eight patients with acquired FVII deficiency, all of whom presented with prolongation of the prothrombin time (PT) in the first 2 weeks following stem cell transplantation (SCT). The mean plasma FVII clotting activity (FVII:c) was 22% (range 8–35%) with an approximately equivalent reduction in FVII antigen (FVII:Ag) level. Mean plasma levels of fibrinogen and factors II, V, IX, and X were normal. Protein C activity was significantly depressed in only one of the three patients in whom it was measured. Several patients experienced bleeding complications, and hemorrhage directly accounted for death in two cases. Veno-occlusive disease of the liver developed in three patients. We conclude that FVII deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of prolonged PT in patients who have recently undergone SCT. The mechanism of this acquired deficiency state remains to be defined.

Bone Marrow Transplantation (2002) 29, 403–408. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1703381

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Luke Dandelet and Marie Johannessen for their technical contribution, and Carol Taubert for help in preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    AA Toor, A Slungaard, DJ Weisdorf & NS Key

  2. Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Inc., Gentofte, Denmark

    U Hedner

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  1. AA Toor
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  2. A Slungaard
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Toor, A., Slungaard, A., Hedner, U. et al. Acquired factor VII deficiency in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Bone Marrow Transplant 29, 403–408 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703381

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