Objectives: We sought to determine the frequencies of factor V Leiden and prothrombin variant G20210A in patients age <50 years with no significant coronary stenoses three to four weeks after myocardial infarction (MI).
Background: Factor V Leiden and prothrombin variant G20210A occur frequently in patients with venous thromboembolism. However, the contribution of these mutations to the development of MI requires clarification.
Methods: The frequencies of factor V Leiden and prothrombin variant G20210A were determined in 41 patients age <50 years who had "normal" or "near normal" coronary arteries (no stenosis >50%) at angiography three to four weeks after MI (the study group) and compared with those in 114 patients who had at least one angiographic stenosis >50% after MI (the control group). Patients age > or =50 years with, or without, stenoses were also studied.
Results: The frequency of factor V Leiden was 14.6% in patients age <50 years in the study group compared with 3.6% in patients in the control group (odds ratio [OR] 4.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-17.7], p = 0.02). The frequency of the prothrombin variant G20210A was 7.3% in the study group compared with 1.8% in the control group (OR 4.4 [95% CI 0.7-27.5], p = 0.12). One or both mutations were present in 8 of the 41 patients (19.5%) age <50 years in the study group compared with 6 of the 114 patients (5.5%) in the control group (OR 4.4 [95% CI 1.4-13.5], p = 0.01). In all 271 patients (irrespective of age) with normal arteries, the frequency of factor V Leiden was 11.7% (7/60) compared with 4.3% (9/211) in patients with at least one >50% stenosis (OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.1-8.3], p = 0.04), and the frequency of prothrombin variant G20210A was 6.7% (4/60) compared with 1.4% (3/211) (OR 4.9 [95% CI 1.1-22.8], p = 0.04), respectively.
Conclusions: The frequencies of factor V Leiden and/or prothrombin variant G20210A are increased in patients age <50 years with normal or near normal coronary arteries after MI.