Information For The Recently Diagnosed

Factor V Leiden Glossary

Anticoagulation - Blood thinning medication. Can either be given into a vein (heparin), into the skin (low molecular weight heparin or heparin), or as a tablet (warfarin, coumadinÒ).

Artery - The blood vessel carrying oxygen rich blood to the tissues. A thrombosis in an artery causes stroke, heart attack, or peripheral vascular disease with gangrene.

CDC: Center for Disease Control. Located in Atlanta, GA. Government health care agency focusing on prevention and treatment of diseases.

Coumadin® - See warfarin

Deep Vein Thrombosis - (= DVT): A clot anywhere in the body. It travels to a main artery and then goes to your head or heart if not treated.

Factor V Leiden - The number one clotting disorder. It is inherited. Five percent of Caucasian Americans have it, 1.2 % of Afro-Americans. You can either be heterozygous (i.e. have one bad gene), homozygous ( i.e. have 2 bad genes) or normal (i.e. not have any bad genes). It is becoming more known because of the WWW and the FVL test now available. This test has only been available for around six years. Before that time, many folks died of clotting episodes not knowing why they had clotted.

Heterozygous - Having one bad gene. If you are heterozygote for Factor V Leiden you have inherited the trait from one parent.

Homozygous - Having 2 bad genes. If you are homozygote (2 bad genes) for Factor V Leiden, you inherited the gene from both parents.

Low Molecular Weight Heparin - An injectable form of heparin that is given underneath the skin (= subcutaneously, s.c.). The brand names are Lovenox, Fragmin, Innohep, and others). It is used as an alternative to coumadin® for dental work and pregnancy. Or any other time you need to be anti-coagulated but can't take coumadin®.

Lytic therapy - clot buster. Medication names are tPA, streptokinase, or urokinase. A very strong medication given in the hospital into the blood vessel to break up clots. Has a risk of bleeding.

Prothrombin 20210 mutation - The second most common clotting disorder. It is also inherited. Two percent of Caucasian Americans have it, 0.5 % of Afro-Americans.

Pulmonary Embolism - a clot that goes into your lungs making it difficult to breathe.

Thrombophilia - Tendency to clot. Often inherited increased clotting tendency, such as factor V Leiden or prothrombin20210 mutation

Thrombosis, also called thrombus - Blood clot. Can be either in an artery (leading to stroke, heart attack, or gangrene) or in a vein (leading to DVT or PE).

Transient Ischemic Attack - Kind of like a mini stroke, but transient in nature.

Vein - The blood vessel carrying blood away from the tissues (devoid of oxygen)

Warfarin - A blood thinning tablet. Brand name: coumadin. Can also be bought as a generic

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