Zebra of the Week: Congenital factor VII deficiency

If severe, this rare bleeding disorder may present in infancy, but very mild cases may never cause any bleeding problems. Symptoms may include epistaxis; easy bruising; gingival bleeding; excessive or prolonged bleeding after injury or surgery; and heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding in women. Some may experience hemarthrosis or hematuria. In very severe cases, intracranial and GI bleeding may occur. Congenital factor VII deficiency is caused by genetic changes in the F7 gene and inheritance is autosomal recessive.