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(Stroke. 2007;38:1069.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Reports

The Factor V Leiden, Prothrombin Gene 20210GA, Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase 677CT and Platelet Glycoprotein IIIa 1565TC Mutations in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation

Eivind Berge, MD, PhD; Kari Bente Foss Haug, MSc Pharm, PhD; Else Charlotte Sandset, MD; Kaia Kristine Haugbro, MSc; Meliha Turkovic Per Morten Sandset, MD, PhD

From the Haematological Research Laboratory (E.B., E.C.S., K.K.H., M.T., P.M.S.), Department of Haematology and R&D Group (K.B.F.H.), Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Correspondence to Dr Eivind Berge, Department of Internal Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, NO-0407 Oslo, Norway. E-mail eivind.berge{at}medisin.uio.no

Background and Purpose— We wanted to investigate whether common prothrombotic mutations are more prevalent in patients with atrial fibrillation who have had a stroke than in healthy controls. We also wanted to assess whether early recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events were more frequent among carriers of the factor V Leiden or the prothrombin gene mutations than among others.

Methods— We used a case-control design with 367 patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation (cases) and 482 healthy blood donors (controls). All mutations were detected with conventional polymerase-chain reaction protocols.

Results— The odds ratios for carriers of the factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene 20210GA, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677CT, or platelet glycoprotein IIIa 1565TC (Pl^A2) mutation were 0.91, (95% CI, 0.51 to 1.59), 2.25 (95% CI, 0.61 to 8.90), 0.83 (0.61 to 1.13), and 0.79 (0.57 to 1.10), respectively. Early recurrent ischemic stroke and total recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events were slightly more frequent among carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation than among noncarriers: odds ratio 1.45 (95% CI, 0.41 to 5.1), and 1.59 (0.61 to 4.1), respectively. None of the patients with recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events had the prothrombin gene mutation.

Conclusion— These mutations are not important risk factors for thromboembolic stroke associated with atrial fibrillation. Carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation had a small, nonsignificantly higher risk of early recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events.

Key Words: atrial fibrillation • ischemic stroke • prothrombotic gene mutations