clotting disorders???

I recently gave birth to a still born in June 2007  at 25 weeks due to placental abruption that had a large clot adhered to it. My question is: is it possible that I have a genetic clottting disorder such as "FACTOR V LEIDEN?". My sister also had a son at 32 weeks due to placental insufficiency! not sure if they are related or not.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Lisa Kessler, MS, CGC]

I am so very sorry for your loss and hope that you have people in your life who are providing you with the support that you need during this difficult time.  

After having a second trimester loss, it may help to talk with your health care provider about being evaluated for both acquired and inherited clotting disorders such as factor V Leiden, the prothrombin genetic mutation and others.  As you may know, factor V Leiden is the most common form of inherited thrombophilia.  Thrombophilia is a blood clotting disorder in which the blood has a tendency to clot more than normal.  For a person with one factor V Leiden gene, the genetic risk of having a blood clot is 5 to 7 times higher than the average person's risk.  The prothrombin genetic mutation also increases the risk to develop clots and is also associated with pregnancy loss in the second trimester.  This mutation is present in 2% of the general population.  

It may help you to meet with a maternal fetal medicine specialist and a genetic counselor to discuss your family history and possible causes for your loss.   In addition, it may help to obtain medical records that can provide more information about your sister’s history of placental insufficiency to determine if there is any relationship or not.  You can find a genetic counselor through the National Society of Genetic Counselors or at companies like mine.  To find a maternal fetal medicine specialist, you can use the physician finder on the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine website.