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Activated protein C resistance, factor V Leiden, and central retinal vein occlusion in young adults
J L Gottlieb1, J P Blice, B Mestichelli
1Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Gottlieb@eyesee.ophth.wisc.edu
Insights
This study found a low prevalence of resistance to activated protein C (APC) and factor V Leiden in young adults with central retinal vein occlusion, failing to confirm previous findings. The results suggest APC resistance is not a significant risk factor in this patient group.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a significant cause of vision loss, particularly in younger adults.
- Previous research suggested a link between thrombophilia, specifically resistance to activated protein C (APC) and factor V Leiden, and CRVO in young patients.
- This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these thrombophilic factors in a cohort of young CRVO patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between resistance to activated protein C (APC) and factor V Leiden mutation with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in adults under 50.
- To validate or refute findings from a prior study suggesting a high prevalence of APC resistance in young CRVO patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of patients under 50 years old diagnosed with CRVO was identified from medical records.
- Blood samples were collected from these patients.
- Samples were analyzed for the presence of resistance to APC and the factor V Leiden mutation.
Main Results:
- Only one patient (4.7%) out of 21 demonstrated both resistance to APC and the factor V Leiden mutation.
- This same patient reported a personal or family history of thrombotic disease.
- The prevalence of APC resistance in this cohort was not significantly higher than in the general population.
Conclusions:
- The study did not confirm a high prevalence of resistance to APC among young adults with central retinal vein occlusion.
- The observed rate of APC resistance (4.7%) in young CRVO patients is comparable to that found in the general population.
- Resistance to APC and factor V Leiden do not appear to be significant risk factors for CRVO in young adults based on these findings.
Objective:
To confirm the relationship between resistance to activated protein C (APC), factor V Leiden, and central retinal vein occlusion in young adults as reported in a recent study of patients younger than 50 years.
Patients And Methods:
Patients younger than 50 years with central retinal vein occlusion were identified from the medical records of the Wills Eye Hospital Retina and Retina Vascular Services. Blood samples were taken from each patient and analyzed for resistance to APC and identification of factor V Leiden.
Results:
Only 1 (4.7%) of 21 patients evidenced resistance to APC and the presence of factor V Leiden. This patient was also the only one to report a family history of thrombotic disease.
Conclusions:
We were unable to confirm the high percentage of resistance to ACP among young adult patients with central retinal vein occlusion. The finding of resistance to APC in only 1 (4.7%) of 21 patients is similar to that found in the general population.