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Incidence of factor V Leiden in patients with acute myocardial infarction
M S Gowda1, M L Zucker, J L Vacek
1University of MissouriKansas City, Mid America Heart Institute and Department of Pathology, St. Lukes Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Insights
Factor V Leiden, a genetic defect causing resistance to activated protein C (APC), does not appear to increase the risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI). This study found no significant association between factor V Leiden and arterial thrombosis in MI patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- Factor V Leiden is a genetic mutation causing resistance to activated protein C (APC), a known risk factor for venous thromboembolism.
- The association between APC resistance and arterial thrombosis, such as myocardial infarction (MI), remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the factor V Leiden mutation is associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 109 patients diagnosed with acute MI and 112 healthy control subjects.
- DNA analysis using polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation in all participants.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation was 8% (9/109) in MI patients and 4% (5/112) in controls.
- Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference (P = .42) in the frequency of factor V Leiden between the MI group and the control group.
Conclusions:
- This study found no evidence to support an association between factor V Leiden mutation and the risk of developing acute myocardial infarction.
- The findings suggest that APC resistance may not be a significant risk factor for arterial thrombosis in the context of MI.
Abstract:
The genetic defect of coagulation factor V known as factor V Leiden produces a resistance to degradation by activated protein C (APC) and increases the risk of venous thromboembolism. The data on arterial thrombosis associated with APC resistance are still not clearly defined. We conducted a study in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (MI) to assess whether factor V Leiden increases the risk of arterial thrombosis. We studied 109 patients who had a diagnosis of acute MI (69 males and 40 females, aged 25-91 years), and 112 controls. The study population was identified by characteristic ECG changes and elevation of serum CK-MB, whereas the control subjects were anonymous healthy blood donors with no known history of coronary artery disease. Blood samples from the patients and controls were analyzed for the factor V Leiden mutation by DNA analysis, using the polymerase chain reaction. Heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation was found in 9 of 109 (8%) MI patients and 5 of 112 (4%) control subjects (P =.42). In conclusion, this study shows no evidence of an association between factor V Leiden and acute MI.