Moderation of hemophilia A phenotype by the factor V R506Q mutation

Although many examples of unrelated hemophilia A patients carrying identical point mutations in the factor VIII (FVIII) gene have been reported, the clinical phenotype is not always the same among patients sharing the same molecular defect. Possible explanations for this discrepancy include undetected additional mutations in the FVIII gene or coinheritance of mutations at other genetic loci that modulate FVIII function. We report molecular genetic analysis of potential modifying genes in two sets of unrelated patients carrying common FVIII missense mutations but exhibiting different levels of clinical severity. Both mutations (FVIII R1689C and R2209Q) are associated with severe hemophilia A in some patients and mild/moderate disease in others. The common von Willebrand disease type 2N mutation (R91Q) was excluded as a modifying factor in these groups of patients. However, analysis of the recently described factor V (FV) R506Q mutation (leading to activated protein C resistance) identified a correlation of inheritance of this defect with reduced hemophilia A severity. Two moderately affected hemophilia A patients, each with either of two FVIII gene mutations, were heterozygous for FV R506Q, whereas two severely affected patients and two moderately affected patients were homozygous normal at the FV locus. Our results suggest that coinheritance of the FV R506Q mutation may be an important determinant of clinical phenotype in hemophilia A and that modification of the protein C pathway may offer a new strategy for the treatment of FVIII deficiency.