SUPERFICIAL VEIN-THROMBOSIS OF LOWER-LIMBS - INFLUENCE OF FACTOR-V-LEIDEN, FACTOR-II G20210A AND OVERWEIGHT

Superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) has been reported in patients with t hrombophilia. In the present unmatched case-control study, the two mos t common thrombophilic abnormalities (factor V Leiden and factor II G2 0210A) were searched for in 112 consecutive patients with SVT of lower limbs and in 180 healthy donors. FV Leiden was present in 16/112 (14. 3%) SVT patients and 11/180 (6.1%) controls (odds ratio 2.51, 95% CI 1 .04-6.24) and FII G20210A in 4/112 (3.6%) patients and 2/180 (1.1%) co ntrols (OR 3.28, 95% CI 0.46-36.84). In addition, body mass index (BMI ) greater than or equal to 28 kg/m(2) was also associated with SVT (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.60-5.00). After adjustement for BMI greater than or eq ual to 28kg/m(2), the association between FV Leiden and SVT remained s trong though no longer statistically significant. Among patients with SVT, the presence of FV Leiden was independently associated with the a bsence of varicose veins (OR 4.62, 95% CI 1.25-18.0) and with a BMI gr eater than or equal to 28 kg/m(2) (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.05-15.1). In conc lusion. both FV Leiden and overweight seem to predispose to SVT, a fin ding that should be confirmed in larger studies.