Factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A mutations in patients with central and branch retinal vein occlusion

The role of factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A mutations has been investigated in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), hemispheric retinal vein occlusion (HRVO), and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A were investigated in DNA obtained from the peripheral blood of 52 patients with retinal vein occlusion. Twenty-five of the patients had either CRVO or HRVO, and 27 patients had BRVO. The control groups for factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A were comprised of two separate groups of 81 and 87 healthy individuals, respectively, who had been previously investigated for the mutations at Hacettepe University Department of Hematology. The frequencies of factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A mutations were compared between the patients and the controls using Fisher's exact test.

Factor V Leiden mutation was found in 8% of all patients, 4% of the CRVO-HRVO group and 11% of the BRVO patients. Prothrombin 20210 A mutation was not found in any of the patients. Factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A mutations have been previously found in 7% and 2% of the healthy controls, respectively. The differences of frequencies between the patients and the controls were not statistically significant.

Factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 A mutations have not been found to be risk factors in either type of retinal vein occlusion.