Major and potential prothrombotic genotypes in a cohort of patients with venous thromboembolism.

Factor V Leiden (FVL) and the prothrombin 20210A (PT-20210A) variant are well-known risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VT). The thermolabile variant (TT) of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, and homozygosity for the 4G allele of the promoter region of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are potential genetic polymorphisms that have not been consistently associated with increased risk of VT. A case-control study was performed on 192 consecutive unrelated patients referred for evaluation of thrombophilia because of VT and 200 healthy controls. FVL was found in 10.4% of patients compared to 3.0% of controls, while 6.3% of patients were carriers of the PT-20210A allele compared to 2.0% of controls. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) were 5.92 and 4.03 for FVL (P=.001) and the PT-20210A (P=.033), respectively. The prevalence of homozygotes for MTHFR (TT) and PAI-1 (4G/4G) among patients and controls were 13.7% versus 13.0% and 21.6% versus 23.5%, respectively (P=ns). A total of 121 patients underwent a complete screening for FVL, the PT-20210A, protein C (PC), protein S (PS), antithrombin III (ATIII), levels of factor VIII, and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). In 59 patients (48.8%) at least one defect was found, being a single defect in 55 and combined defects in 4 patients. Plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) were measured in 138 patients and 144 controls. Subjects from both groups carrying the MTHFR-TT variant had higher Hcy levels than those with the normal genotype. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) by itself is a risk factor for VT (OR 4.92, P<.0001). We conclude that FVL and the PT-20210A are risk factors for VT as well as Hcy levels, but the MTHFR and PAI-1 polymorphisms do not appear to be associated with VT in our country.