Factor XIII Deficiency is a rare, autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. Factor XIII is the final enzyme in the coagulation cascade. Its job is to stabilize the initial, soft fibrin clot by forming covalent bonds between fibrin strands, creating a tough, cross-linked fibrin mesh that is resistant to breakdown (fibrinolysis). Patients with Factor XIII deficiency form initial clots normally, so routine screening tests like PT and APTT are perfectly normal. However, these clots are unstable and break down easily. This leads to a characteristic pattern of bleeding: delayed bleeding hours or days after trauma, poor wound healing, and a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Umbilical stump bleeding in newborns is a classic sign. Diagnosis requires a specific clot solubility test in 5M urea or a quantitative Factor XIII assay.

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Zambia

• loveness Phiri – 1084 pts

• Visual Pathway Lesions
• Positive and Negative Symptoms
• Hallucinations and Delusions
• Antipsychotic Medications
• Emergency: Environmental Emergencies