Factor XI Deficiency: Detection and Management During Urological Surgery

Abstract

Hereditary factor XI deficiency may remain undiagnosed until severe bleeding is observed after an operation or trauma. Two such cases were encountered and, therefore, a regular screening test for coagulation disorders among urological patients was initiated. During 2 years (1975 and 1976) 10 additional cases of factor XI deficiency were detected: 5 severe and 5 partial. All patients were Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern European origin. The 5 patients with severe factor XI deficiency underwent an operation without any complications. They were transfused with 5 to 20 ml./kg./day of fresh frozen plasma from the day before the operation until 10 to 14 days postoperatively. Of the 5 patients with partial XI deficiency 4 underwent an operation. In 1 of 3 patients who did not receive transfusions postoperative bleeding was observed. A minimal level of 0.3 U./ml. (30 per cent) factor XI was found necessary to ensure good hemostasis during and after an operation. In view of a recent finding of relatively high gene frequency of factor XI deficiency in Ashkenazic Jews it seems warranted to do a partial thromboplastin time in such patients who need an operation.