Factor X deficiency

Factor X deficiency is a rare genetic blood disorder that causes the normal clotting process (coagulation) to take longer than normal. This causes people to bleed for a longer of amount of time. Factor X is a clotting protein (also called a clotting factor). Clotting factors are specialized proteins that are essential for proper clotting, the process by which blood clumps together to plug the site of a wound to stop bleeding. Clotting requires a series of reactions to ultimately form a clot to plug a wound. This is referred to as the clotting (coagulation) cascade. The clotting cascade involves different substances in addition to clotting factors. Factor X, which is produced (synthesized) in the liver, eventually interacts with other clotting factors and certain cells or substances, e.g. platelets or fibrinogen, to help to form a clot. Factor X deficiency is caused by a variation (mutation) in the F10 gene. In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a drug called Coagadex for adults and children over 12. This medication restores functional factor X levels.