Factor V Leiden Mutation |
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Main-- Home-- Risks-- Supports |
Supports for Factor V Leiden MutationWhat are the supports available for persons with factor V Leiden mutation?Unless a person gets a blood clot also known as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), they may never know they have factor V Leiden mutation. Most people get a DVT in their lower extremities. When a person gets a DVT they will experience swelling and pain in the area of the blood clot. A person can also have a elevated white blood count and a fever. A more dangerous symptom would be shortness of breath or pain in the chest caused by a blood clot in the lungs called a pulmonary emboli or a PE. Clots can appear anywhere in your body, with life-threatening consequences if not treated immediately. The Worse case scenario is death from a blood clot.What are the solutions for persons with factor V Leiden mutation?Once you are diagnosed with the factor V Leiden mutation and have not experienced a DVT, the best solution is awareness and prevention of the risk factors. For example if you are a female: stay away from oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. If a person gets a DVT the solution will be to be put on an anticoagulant medication. The most common medication for a DVT is heparin and coumadin/warfarin. The therapy ranges from three months to a life time on the medication depending on several factors.What are the supports available for persons with factor V Leiden mutation?There are very few supports for a person with factor V Leiden mutation. This is due to the fact that the factor V Leiden mutation was only dicsovered a short time ago. The first support would be from a person's medical doctor especially if a person has experienced a blood clot. If genetic counseling is to be done then a hemotologist will be involved. There is a wonderful support phone number for all medical questions:1-800-NOMORECLOTSThere is also a support web page on the Thrombophilia Support site at: www.fvleiden.org | |