are a key component of the blood.
Coagulation factors, also known as clotting factors, play a vital role in the body's immune system. Coagulation factors are essential for blood clotting, and are often measured by health professionals to determine a patient's health. There are many coagulation factors, and a rise in coagulation factors can be the result of a number of different conditions.
Coagulation Factors
The term "coagulation factors" (also known as "blood clotting factors" or "clotting factors") refers to a number of different substances, mostly proteins, that occur in the blood and control clotting or coagulation. Coagulation factors are essential components of blood --- without them, blood doesn't clot, and you could bleed to death from even a small cut.
Causes for a Rise in Coagulation Factors
Generally speaking, doctors are more concerned about a drop in coagulation factors than in a rise --- and as a result, the reasons for a rise in coagulation factors haven't been well-studied and are still largely unknown. There are a number of genetic conditions that cause a hypercoagulable state, in which clotting factors are elevated and the blood clots more easily. Some people have a natural deficiency of Antithrombin III or Protein C, both of which are important coagulation factors. The most common genetic cause of a rise in coagulation factors is a genetic mutation called Factor V Leiden. This mutation occurs in 5 percent of the white population.
Non-Genetic Causes
The most common non-genetic reason for a rise in coagulation factors is pregnancy, which changes the balance of these factors in the blood and generally causes most coagulation factors to rise. Many other conditions can also cause a rise on coagulation factors by mechanisms that doctors still do not fully understand. A rise in coagulation factors can be cause by trauma, surgery, some cancers and infection. Elevated coagulation factors can also be an indicator of heart disease, but the relationship between heart disease and coagulation factors is only beginning to be studied.
Thrombosis
High coagulation factors can be an indicator of other health problems, but high coagulation factors can themselves cause serious problems. When coagulation factors become too high, this put you at risk of thrombosis, the clotting of the blood inside the circulatory system. A blood clot in an artery, vein or the heart can be deadly or cause a stroke. When coagulation factors get too high, a doctor may prescribe aspirin or blood thinners to lower the levels of coagulation factors and reduce the risk of thrombosis.
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