Mesenteric and portal vein thrombosis associated with hyperhomocysteinemia and heterozygosity for factor V Leiden mutation

TO THE EDITOR A 79-year-old man was hospitalized because of worsening upper abdominal pain which started two days before admission and was continuously present. His personal and family historywas uneventful, he did not smoke and denied toxic habits or using any medications, including over the-counter medications, herbal remedies or any vitamin supplements.     

Prevalence of the factor V Leiden mutation in hepatic and portal vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation has been shown to be the most frequent cause of hereditary thrombophilia. The prevalence of the mutation in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) has not been fully elucidated. AIMS: To investigate the association between the FVL mutation and BCS and PVT. PATIENTS: Thirty patients with BCS, 32 patients with PVT, and a control group of 54 patients with liver disorders and no history of thrombosis. METHODS: The factor V gene was analysed for the presence of the FVL mutation by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The presence of the mutation was confirmed by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Seven (23%) patients with BCS, one (3%) patient with PVT, and three (6%) patients in the control group were identified as having the FVL mutation. There of the BCS patients had coexisting hypercoagulable states. The prevalence of the FVL mutation was significantly higher in patients with BCS compared with patients with PVT and controls (p < 0.04). The FVL mutation was the second most common aetiology associated with BCS. CONCLUSION: The FVL mutation is an important factor in the pathogenesis of BCS and screening for the disorder must be included in the investigation of patients presenting with this condition. In contrast, the FVL mutation is not a major predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of PVT.     

The factor V Leiden mutation in children with cancer and thrombosis

Thromboembolic phenomena, frequently observed in children with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy, can cause significant morbidity and, less frequently, mortality. Many contributory factors have been identified. Whether the recently identified and most common coagulation defect predisposing to thrombosis, factor V Leiden, is associated with thrombosis in this setting, has not been explored. The current study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of the factor V Leiden mutation in children with cancer who developed thromboembolic phenomena as compared to those with cancer who did not. Genomic DNA was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by digestion of the amplification product with the restriction enzyme Mnl I. The digested PCR products were then size-fractionated to classify samples as heterozygous, homozygous or normal for the factor V Leiden mutation. 67 children with cancer were evaluated for the factor V Leiden mutation. One of 32 children with cancer and thrombosis, and none of 35 who had not experienced thrombotic problems, was found heterozygous for this mutation. We conclude that the factor V Leiden mutation does not play a significant role in the overall incidence of thromboses that occur in children with cancer.     

因子V Leiden突变在布加综合征与门静脉血栓形成中的意义

布加综合征与门静脉血栓是2种罕见的肝脏血管病,可伴发肝功能衰竭及门静脉高压症等严重并发症。研究证据表明因子V Leiden(FVL)突变是西方布加综合征与门静脉血栓患者的重要危险因素,但在中国布加综合征患者中比较罕见。着重回顾FVL突变在布加综合征与门静脉血栓形成中的意义,提出尚须前瞻性研究进一步评估FVL突变在中国门静脉血栓患者中的患病率,以判断FVL突变筛查的必要性。     

Spontaneous thrombosis in mice carrying the factor V Leiden mutation

A polymorphism in coagulation factor V, factor V Leiden (FVL), is the major known genetic risk factor for thrombosis in humans. Approximately 10% of mutation carriers experience clinically significant thrombosis in their lifetime. In a small subset of patients, thrombosis is associated with coinheritance of other prothrombotic gene mutations. However, the potential contribution of additional genetic risk factors in the majority of patients remains unknown. To gain insight into the molecular basis for the variable expressivity of FVL, mice were generated carrying the homologous mutation (R504Q [single-letter amino acid codes]) inserted into the endogenous murine Fv gene. Adult heterozygous (FvQ/+) and homozygous (FvQ/Q) mice are viable and fertile and exhibit normal survival. Compared with wild-type mice, adult FvQ/Q mice demonstrate a marked increase in spontaneous tissue fibrin deposition. No differences in fetal development or survival are observed among FvQ/Q, FvQ/+ or control littermates on the C57BL/6J genetic background. In contrast, on a mixed 129Sv-C57BL/6J genetic background, FvQ/Q mice develop disseminated intravascular thrombosis in the perinatal period, resulting in significant mortality shortly after birth. These results may explain the high degree of conservation of the R504/R506 activated protein C cleavage site within FV among mammalian species and suggest an important contribution of other genetic factors to the thrombosis associated with FVL in humans. (Blood. 2000;96:4222-4226)     

Acute Budd-Chiari syndrome with fulminant hepatic failure in a pregnant woman with factor V Leiden mutation

Budd-Chiari syndrome during pregnancy has rarely been reported. This report presents a case of acute hepatic failure in a 20-year-old pregnant woman attributable to Budd-Chiari syndrome with underlying resistance to activated protein C caused by factor V Leiden mutation. The patient delivered a healthy girl by cesarean section in the 31st week of pregnancy. Acute hepatic failure in the 6th week postpartum was successfully treated by emergency liver transplantation, and the patient and her child were doing well at 8-month follow-up. Liver transplantation was lifesaving; normal factor V production by the transplant corrected the underlying coagulopathy. In this patient, latent thrombophilia attributable to activated protein C resistance was apparently aggravated by the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy leading to acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. Activated protein C resistance should be sought as an etiologic factor in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome. (Gastroenterology 1996 Dec;111(6):1670-3)     

Risk of thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies and factor V Leiden mutation

OBJECTIVE: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are thrombophilic risk markers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The risk factors for recurrent venous or arterial thrombosis and indications for longterm anticoagulation therapy are debated. We hypothesized that carrying a second thrombophilic defect, factor V Leiden mutation, would increase the risk for thrombosis in patients with aPL. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with primary APS and 83 with SLE and aPL with or without thrombosis followed at 2 university hospitals were studied. Factor V mutation rate was analyzed in patients and in 200 healthy blood donors by polymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of factor V Leiden mutation in patients with SLE and aPL or primary APS was similar to controls. Patients with deep vein thrombosis or arterial thrombosis did not have a significantly increased rate of factor V mutation compared to controls or to patients with aPL without thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Factor V Leiden mutation is not significantly associated with vein thrombosis in patients with aPL. However, due to the sample size we cannot rule out synergy between both factor V Leiden and aPL. A trend toward increased risk for thrombosis was detected in patients with the mutation and this should be analyzed in a larger study.     

Cerebral infarct associated with factor V Leiden mutation in a boy with hemophilia A

An 11-year-old boy with mild hemophilia A was admitted to our hospital because of focal convulsions. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an old occipital infarct. Protein C, S, antithrombin III, anticardiolipin antibodies and fibrinogen were normal. Heterozygosity for factor V Leiden mutation was detected. We suggest that factor V Leiden mutation should be studied in hemophiliacs with thrombosis. Am. J. Hematol. 56:189–190, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Hyperhomocysteinaemia and factor V Leiden mutation are associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction and may be caused by various prothrombotic disorders. We aimed to study the role of hyperhomocysteinaemia, factor V Leiden mutation and G20210A prothrombin gene mutation in the pathogenesis of the syndrome. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (16 male, 16 female, aged 19-45 years) with angiographically verified BCS and 33 age-matched and sex-matched voluntary healthy controls (15 male, 18 female, aged 19-45 years) were included into the study. Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutations were determined in extracted DNA from peripheric mononuclear cells, using a light cycler amplification system. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. RESULTS: The homozygote factor V Leiden mutation was diagnosed in four BCS patients and the heterozygote mutation was diagnosed in five. The frequency of the mutant allele was 20.3% in BCS patients and 7.6% in the controls (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in prothrombin gene mutation frequency between the two groups. Serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the BCS group than in the controls (16.4 +/- 8.8 vs 11.0 +/- 2.7 micromol/l; P < 0.01). BCS patients with the mutant factor V Leiden allele have significantly higher levels of serum homocysteine (22.1 +/- 13.3 vs 14.4 +/- 5.9 mumol/l; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinaemia, especially when associated with the factor V Leiden mutation, is an important risk factor for the development of BCS.     

Cerebral thrombosis associated with heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation and high lipoprotein(a) level in a girl with factor XIII deficiency.

A 5-year-old girl in whom the diagnosis of inherited factor XIII deficiency was established at the age of 1 day presented with cryptic tonsillitis along with drowsiness and an abrupt occurrence of getting left interior cross eyed. While an intracranial hemorrhage was expected, cerebral imaging studies surprisingly revealed multiple sino venous thrombosis. In prothrombotic screening studies she and her father were both found to be heterozygous for factor V Leiden mutation along with having elevated levels of lipoprotein(a). Low-molecular-weight heparin was started. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was applied because of persistence of increased intracranial pressure. Thrombosis disappeared and blood flow was normalized by the end of 2 months and the patient was discharged on coumadin therapy as being well. We would like to report this unusual case and to discuss the possible effects of two major genetic prothrombotic risk factors on inherited bleeding tendency or vice versa.     

Activated protein C resistance and the factor V Leiden mutation in children with thrombosis

To determine the prevalence of activated protein C resistance and the factor V Leiden mutation (position 1691, arginine 506 to glutamine substitution) in children with thrombosis, plasma samples from children with thrombosis were tested for activated protein C resistance. DNA was analyzed for the factor V Leiden mutation. Five of 34 children (15%) had activated protein C resistance; each was heterozygous for the factor V Leiden mutation. All 5 children heterozygous for the factor V Leiden mutation suffered non-CNS venous thromboses comprising 21% of the group of children (5/24) with non-CNS venous thrombotic events. Each of these 5 children had a family history of thrombosis. In conclusion, children with non-CNS venous thrombosis should be evaluated for the factor V Leiden mutation. Children most likely affected are those with a family history of thrombosis. Am. J. Hematol. 57:29–32, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Portal vein thrombosis associated with ischemic colitis

We report the case of a 52-year-old male who was admitted for sudden abdominal pain and hematochezia. Colonoscopy showed erosion and edema in the mucosa of the descending colon, leading to a diagnosis of ischemic colitis. Blood tests revealed hepatic dysfunctions. Using abdominal ultrasonography (US), thrombus was observed in the left branch of the portal vein and a part of the right branch. Although the Doppler method detected blood flow in the right branch, no blood flow signal was observed in the left branch. Since coagulation examinations were almost normal, and there was no past history of liver cirrhosis or malignancy, it was diagnosed to be portal vein thrombosis (PVT) associated with ischemic colitis. Anticoagulation therapy was initiated for PVT. According to the results of the US and abdominal computed tomography performed 3 months after starting the treatment, thrombus in the right branch had diminished but remained in the umbilical region of the left branch. Due to atrophy of the lateral segment of the liver, we terminated the treatment. Ischemic colitis is not a rare disease; however, when accompanying hepatic dysfunction, it is necessary to take the complications associated with PVT into consideration.     

Arterial thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction with angiographically normal coronary arteries in a woman heterozygous for both factor V Leiden and prothrombin mutation

Thirteen years after her last thrombotic event, anticoagulation was discontinued in a patient with combined thrombophilia involving mutation in factor V and G20210A polymorphism of the prothrombin gene. The only history was of arterial thrombosis. Three months later she presented a transmural myocardial infarction caused by coronary thrombosis.     

Portal vein thrombosis associated with antiphospholipid syndrome

Received: April 25, 2000 / Accepted: October 6, 2000