Directed search for thrombomodulin gene mutations.

Thrombomodulin is a principle thrombin receptor located on the vascular endothelium. Thrombomodulin alters the specificity of thrombin, redirecting its procoagulant function to an anticoagulant function by making it a more efficient activator of protein C. While mutation of the genes of other components of this anticoagulant mechanism, protein C, protein S and factor V, is known to predispose towards venous thromboembolism, there are only a few reports of the investigation of thrombomodulin gene mutation. We present the design and evaluation of a strategy to investigate thrombomodulin gene mutation in arterial and venous thrombosis.