Coagulation factor XIII Val34Leu gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease.

Blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) plays a role in inflammatory processes and a pathogenetic role of inflammation in neurodegenerative disorders has been proposed. FXIIIa subunit was immunohistochemically detected in a subpopulation of reactive microglia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aim of the present study is to evaluate whether a common polymorphism of the FXIII gene is associated with sporadic AD. We examined 90 patients affected by sporadic AD and 139 age- and sex-matched controls to assess the distribution of V/L alleles and genotypes of the FXIIIa-subunit gene. The LL genotype showed a significantly higher frequency in AD patients (p<0.05) with a significantly increased risk of AD in the presence of LL genotype at the logistic regression analysis [odds ratio: 3.6 (1.36-9.44), p<0.01]. This study shows for the first time an association between FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism and AD.