INHERITED THROMBOTIC DISORDERS - AN UPDATE

Significant advances in identification of etiologies of inherited thro mbosis have been recently reported. A point mutation in coagulation fa ctor V (factor V Leiden) results in resistance to activated protein C and probably repesents the most common genetic risk factor for venous thrombosis. A metabolic disorder, homocysteinemia, is now known to be an important risk factor for both arterial and venous thrombosis. Many patients with recurrent thrombosis will have more than one genetic ri sk factor identified. Recognition of these new disorders should permit a diagnosis to be achieved in at least half of patients evaluated for inherited thrombosis. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.