FACTOR-V LEIDEN GENE MUTATION AND THROMBIN GENERATION IN RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACUTE STROKE

To determine the prevalence of the factor V Leiden gene mutation in re lation to the phenotypes of cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhag e, we studied 386 randomly selected cases of acute stroke and 247 cont rol subjects. Factor V genotype was determined by amplification of a 2 67-bp sequence of exon/intron 10 of the factor V gene. Levels of proth rombin fragment F-1+2, a marker of thrombin generation, were determine d in both acute and convalescent stroke and related to factor V genoty pe. Prothrombin fragment F-1+2, was assessed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sixteen stroke cases (4.1%) were identified as h aving the mutation compared with 14 (5.6%) control subjects. Prothromb in fragment F-1+2, levels were estimated in 191 cases and found to be elevated both acutely and after 3 months, but they were not related to factor V genotype. Prothrombin fragment F-1+2 is elevated in acute st roke and requires further evaluation in relation to cerebrovascular di sease. These results suggest that the factor V Leiden gene mutation is not a risk factor for arterial thrombosis causing stroke.