Common genetic variants of coagulation factor genes associated with differe
nces in concentration and/or function of coagulation factors have been stud
ied in search of variability that could explain the individual susceptibili
ty to thrombosis and atherothrombotic diseases. The more outstanding polymo
rphisms in genes of factors involved in coagulation and fibrinolysis descri
bed in the literature (such as fibrinogen, factor XIII, glycoprotein Ilb/II
Ia, von Willebrand factor, factors VII, VIII and IX, factor V, ATIII and pr
otein C system factors, prothrombin, PAI-1 and fibrinolytic system) are rev
iewed in the context of factor's structure and function and also in its pro
posed relevance for thrombotic and atherothrombotic risk definition.