Afibrinogenemia

Afibrinogenemia, sometimes called congenital afibrinogenemia, is an inherited blood disorder in which the blood does not clot normally. It occurs when there is a lack (deficiency) of a protein called fibrinogen (or coagulation factor I), which is needed for the blood to clot. Affected individuals may be susceptible to severe bleeding (hemorrhaging) episodes, particularly during infancy and childhood. Afibrinogenemia is thought to be transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. Treatment may include cryoprecipitate (a blood product containing concentrated fibrinogen and other clotting factors), fibrinogen concentrates or plasma (the liquid portion of the blood which contains clotting factors).