The O blood group protects against venous thromboembolism in individuals with the factor V Leiden but not the prothrombin (factor II G20210A) mutation.

We investigated the influence of the ABO blood group in the observed prevalences of the recently described factor V R506Q and factor II G20210A mutations in a thrombotic population. We determined the ABO blood group in a sample of 178 unselected patients (aged 17-83 years), diagnosed at our center with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. The results of this study show a high prevalence of thrombosis in the non-O blood group. In the general population, the prevalence as a fraction of the O blood group was 2.69 (confidence interval 1.90-3.82). Of the factor V R506Q carriers (n = 28), only one had O group blood and 27 of 28 were non-O (24 A, one B and two AB). However, within the group of factor II G20210A carriers (n = 17), seven had O, nine A and one B type blood. The prevalence of the factor V R506Q mutation within the O blood group was 2.4% (one of 42), significantly lower than in the A group (23.3%, 24 of 103; P = 0.002), or in the overall non-O group (19.9%, 27 of 136; P = 0.006). This prevalence was similar to that observed previously in the non-thrombotic population in our area (3.5%; P = 0.9). We analyzed the clotting activity of factor VIII and we found higher levels in the non-O group (1.78+/-0.61 U/ml) than in the O blood group (1.30+/-0.51 U/ ml; P < 0.0001). We speculate that factor Va in individuals with the factor V Leiden mutation could interact with the high levels of factor VIII clotting activity as a necessary cofactor.