Christmas Factor Deficiency (Hemophilia B)
Like classic hemophilia, the Christmas disease or Hemophilia B is also an X-linked recessive genetic passed along inherently. However, this is due to the deficiency in clotting factor IX (FIX or Christmas factor). Without the Christmas factor, the coagulation may have problems as this protein produced by the F9 gene provides instructions for making proteins that seal off damaged blood vessels and prevent even more blood loss.
The Christmas factor is a clotting factor named after Stephen Christmas, a famous personality suffering from deficiency of the same portion. This blood clotting factor can be found in the intrinsic pathway of the blood coagulation cascade. In cases of injury, the Christmas factor works with blood clotting factor VIII (the antihemophilic factor) and calcium. Together, they work to activate blood clotting factor X (also known as Stuart factor), a vitamin K–dependent serine protease found in the blood. Like all other blood clotting factors, the Stuart factor is an important component that helps the blood clot and cleaves prothrombin to generate thrombin when intrinsic and extrinsic pathways converge.
