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(Stroke. 2001;32:2759.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Role of Factor XIII Val34Leu Polymorphism in Retinal Artery Occlusion

Martin Weger, MD; Wilfried Renner, PhD; Olaf Stanger, MD; Otto Schmut, PhD; Hannes Deutschmann, MD; Thomas C. Wascher, MD Anton Haas, MD

From the Department of Ophthalmology (M.W., O. Schmut, H.D., A.H.); the Division of Angiology (W.R.), Department of Medicine; the Atherothrombotic Research Group (O. Stanger), Department of Cardiac Surgery; and the Diabetic Angiopathy Research Group (W.R., T.C.W.), Department of Medicine, Karl-Franzens University, Graz, Austria.

Correspondence to Martin Weger, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Auenbruggerplatz 4, A-8036 Graz, Austria. E-mail martin.weger{at}kfunigraz.ac.at

Background and Purpose— Factor XIII (FXIII) Val34Leu, a common polymorphism in the gene for factor XIII, has been associated with a lower risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and deep vein thrombosis. Ineffective fibrin cross-linking has been suggested to be causative. The aim of the present case-control study was to investigate the role of FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism in patients with retinal artery occlusion.

Methods— A total of 108 patients with retinal artery occlusion and 313 age- and sex-matched controls were genotyped for the FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism. Factor XIII Val34Leu genotypes were determined by use of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Results— Homozygous Leu genotype was found significantly more often in control subjects than in patients with retinal artery occlusion (P=0.018), with an odds ratio of 0.22 (95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.74). Distribution of the Val/Val and Val/Leu genotypes did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions— Because prevalence of homozygous Leu genotype was significantly higher in controls, we conclude that the Leu/Leu genotype is associated with a protective effect against retinal artery occlusion.

Key Words: coagulation • factor XIII • genetics • retinal artery occlusion

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