FACTOR-V-LEIDEN MUTATION IN PATIENTS WITH BEHCETS-DISEASE

Objective, To determine the relation between factor V Leiden and Behce t's disease (BD), which is described as chronic relapsing vasculitis w ith pathogenetic mechanisms that seem to be related to anticoagulant p athways. Methods. Using polymerase chain reaction, the factor V Leiden mutation was investigated in 44 patients with BD, of which 5 had thro mbotic histories. Results, Ten patients were found to have the factor V Leiden mutation. This frequency (22.7%) was higher than that of our general population (7.1%) (p < 0.05). Of the 5 patients with BD with t hrombotic histories, 3 (60%) had factor V Leiden mutation (one homozyg ote, 2 heterozygote), while 7 of 39 (17.9%) patients with no thromboti c history had the factor V Leiden mutation (2 homozygotes, 5 heterozyg otes). There is no statistical difference in the frequency of the fact or V mutation between patients with BD with no thrombosis and the cont rol group. The frequency of thrombosis in BD with and without factor V Leiden mutation was (3/10) 30% and (2/34) 5.9%, respectively. Conclus ion. These findings suggest that homozygosity or heterozygosity for fa ctor V Leiden is not always associated with occurrence of venous throm bosis in BD, but it may be a contributing risk factor for venous throm boembolic events in these patients.