Hereditary Prothrombin Deficiency

Abstract

Quantitative immunologic assay of the plasma of the proposita in a family with hereditary prothrombin deficiency demonstrated the defect to be due to an actual deficiency of the prothrombin molecule. The homozygous level of plasma prothrombin in this family is 25 per cent, and although this signifies a mild disorder, excessive bleeding did occur with surgical trauma. This was easily treated with whole-blood infusions. The mode of inheritance of this disorder appears to be autosomal, and its severity related to the gene dosage of the person affected.