AN EVALUATION OF THE FACTOR-V-LEIDEN MUTATION IN A COHORT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN PREGNANT

The objective of this work was to study the prevalence of the Factor V Leiden mutation in an obstetrical clinic largely comprised of African -American women. A cross-sectional study was performed evaluating a to tal of 231 consecutive women of African-American origin. Of these pati ents, 21 were considered at high risk for thrombosis, but none was fou nd to carry the mutation. One patient (0.4 per cent) of the total was heterozygous for the Factor V Leiden mutation. African-American women do not appear to be at an increased risk of being heterozygous or homo zygous for the Leiden mutation. This low prevalence may be confounded by ascertainment bias in a population of pregnant women. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.