THE FACTOR-V LEIDEN MUTATION - SPECTRUM OF THROMBOTIC EVENTS AND LABORATORY EVALUATION

Purpose: This study aims to describe the spectrum of clinical thrombot ic events and to compare the methods of laboratory evaluation for the newly described prothrombotic factor V Leiden mutation. Methods: Speci mens from 1376 patients with thrombotic events or their relatives were tested for the factor V Leiden mutation by polymerase chain reaction plus restriction digest from Jan. 1, 1995, to Mar. 31, 1996. Activated protein C (APC) resistance test data was available for 554 of these p atients. Clinical information was available for 166 patients with the mutation. Results: Of 1376 patients tested for factor V Leiden mutatio n, 270 (19.6%) were positive, with 12 homozygotes and 258 heterozygote s. Of 554 patients for whom APC resistance data was available, 221 (39 .9%) had low APC resistance ratios (less than or equal to 2.4); of the se only 97 (43.9%) were factor V Leiden-positive. Among 333 samples wi th normal or elevated APC resistance ratios, 19 (5.7%) were later iden tified with the factor V Leiden mutation, despite the normal screening test. One hundred fourteen of 166 patients (68.7%) with the mutation had at least one thrombotic event, most commonly deep venous thrombosi s and pulmonary embolus. Arterial cerebrovascular thrombotic events oc curred in 11 patients (10%), and myocardial infarctions in eight (7%). The mean-age of all patients with arterial thrombotic events was 45.4 years. Conclusions: The factor V mutation is a common cause of venous thromboses but may also be associated with the early presentation of arterial thrombotic events. The APC resistance test is a sensitive scr eening assay but has Limitations of its specificity in clinical practi ce.