High prevalence of factor V Leiden mutation in mothers of premature neonates

The prevalence of the Leiden mutation was tested in 50 mothers of premature infants and in 56 mothers of intra-uterine-growth-retarded neonates, The p revalence of the Leiden mutation was 7.2% in the mothers of growth-retarded neonates and 18% in the group of mothers of premature infants, the latter being significantly higher than the 6.3% prevalence of this mutation in hea lthy Hungarian subjects (p < 0.01), In spite of the relatively small number of mothers examined, the unexpected finding may call attention to a hither to unknown relationship. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.