F. Peyvandi et al., Homozygous 2bp deletion in the human factor VII gene: A non-lethal mutation that is associated with a complete absence of circulating factor VII, THROMB HAEM, 84(4), 2000, pp. 635-637
We report the case of a 5-year-old boy with severe factor VII deficiency. T
he affected child presented at the age of 8 months and again at 18 months w
ith bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract but the diagnosis of factor VI
I deficiency was not made until the age of 3 years. He was treated with fre
sh frozen plasma and subsequently factor VII concentrates and to date remai
ns well. To identify the causative mutation, the factor VII gene was screen
ed by SSCP and direct sequence analysis. A single homozygous 2bp deletion (
-CT) mutation was identified in exon la removing nucleotides 27/28 (codons
52/53). Both parents, who were first cousins, were heterozygous for the mut
ation. The mutation located in the prepropeptide of factor VII, results in
a complete absence of factor VII in plasma. This case indicates that a comp
lete absence of plasma factor VII is not necessarily a lethal condition.