PREVALENCE OF FACTOR-V-LEIDEN IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Factor V Leiden (FVL) refers to a mutation on the clotting factor, Fac tor V. Protein C is a factor involved in the fibrinolytic pathway. Act ivated protein C (APC) normally degrades activated Factor V. The prese nce of the Leiden mutation on Factor V makes this protein resistant to degradation by APC, leading to a hypercoagulable state. Previous stud ies reported a prevalence of FVL in various populations between 0-6% a nd absent in Africans. We studied two factor V alleles from one hundre d random blood samples submitted for CBC. DNA was extracted, PCR was p erformed for wild-type allele and Leiden mutation with GH internal con trol for both reactions, and agarose gel electrophoresis was performed . Of 100 samples, five were heterozygous for FVL, which is in accord w ith other reports. Interestingly, four of 70 samples (5.8%) from Afric an-Americans were positive for the mutation. The study indicates an ap parent prevalence of 5% in the Newark, New Jersey population, includin g African-Americans.