Background: A genetic variation of the prothrombin (factor II) gene, a G to A transition at nucleotide position 20210, was recently found in patients with familial thrombophilia (predisposition to venous thrombosis). It seems to be frequent in patients with the factor V Leiden mutation. We report a family with the factor V Leiden and/or the genetic variation of prothrombin in 3 members.
Case report: The patient had repeated episodes of deep vein thromboses starting at the age of 30 during the 4th pregnancy. She is a heterozygous carrier of both the factor V Leiden nutation and the prothrombin mutation 20210 A. She has 4 asymptomatic children, aged 28 to 32 and 3 of them have been explored: one son has the prothrombin mutation, one daughter the factor V Leiden and one has none of them.
Discussion: This case report illustrates the polygenic nature of thrombophilia which may explain the heterogeneity of clinical expression observed in isolated congenital abnormalities, especially in factor V Leiden mutation.