Combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII in a pediatric patient: a case report

Combined deficiency of factors V and VIII is a rare autosomal recessive disorder associated with an increased risk of bleeding. We present an unusual case of a 7-year-old Moroccan child with no history of consanguinity who was hospitalized owing to a hemorrhagic episode during circumcision.

The 7-year-old patient, a Moroccan boy from North Africa, coming from a family of five siblings, was referred for an evaluation of prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. Coagulation factor assays revealed a combined deficiency of factors V and VIII, with normal levels of other coagulation factors. This anomaly was detected in the hematology laboratory, where hemostasis tests were performed via optical methods on the Acl Top 750 analyzer. A complete blood count was conducted on the Beckman Coulter DXH 900 analyzer. Hemostasis assessments revealed an elevated activated partial thromboplastin time at 73.2 s (normal range < 36), with a patient-to-control activated partial thromboplastin time ratio of 2.58 (normal ratio < 1.2), a low prothrombin time at 18.35 s (normal prothrombin time range: 11.4-13.5), and an international normalized ratio of 1.59 (normal range: 2-3.5). Specific coagulation factor assays demonstrated a combined deficiency of factors V and VIII at 12.4% (normal range: 55-150) and 9.1% (normal range: 50-145), respectively, whereas other coagulation factor levels remained within the normal range, including the antigenic activity of von Willebrand at 71.7% (normal range: 50-150). The complete blood count showed no abnormalities, except for a small thrombocytosis. The child was managed in the pediatric hematology department, and a family investigation among the remaining siblings was initiated to search for similar cases.

Our study highlights a rare and often underdiagnosed genetic disorder that is often confused with a diagnosis of minor hemophilia A or congenital factor V deficiency. Differential diagnosis is crucial, particularly for von Willebrand disease. Combined deficiency of factors V and VIII should be suspected in patients with a suggestive clinical and laboratory profile, including prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time along with a deficiency in coagulation factor V. Therefore, measuring factor VIII levels is highly recommended.