Prevalence of factor V Leiden in a population of patients with congenital heart disease

Biauw Chi Ong, A. Andrew Zimmerman, David C. Zappulla, Ellis J. Neufeld, Frederick A. Burrows

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The incidence of thrombotic events following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients receiving surgical repair or palliation of congenital heart defects (CHD) is as high as 16%. Protein C, an intrinsic anticoagulation protease which, when activated, breaks down factor Va of the coagulation system, aids in maintaining a normal procoagulant/anticoagulant balance. Resistance of factor Va to degradation by activated protein C occurs and predisposes to thrombotic events. The resistance of factor Va to such degradation is, in the majority of cases, due to a genetic mutation referred to as factor V Leiden (FV(Leiden)). The presence of FV(Leiden) can be diagnosed using a DNA based assay. The prevalence of FV(Leiden) in the with CHD has not been determined. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of FV(Leiden) in patients with CHD. Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients with CHD undergoing surgical repair or palliation requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were studied. Blood was taken before administration of homologous blood transfusion and assayed using a DNA based method with polymerase chain reaction amplification for the FV(Leiden) mutation. Results: The prevalence of FV(Leiden) in our study population was 9/200 (4.5%). None of these patients demonstrated thrombotic complications. However, three patients (1.5%) without the FV(Leiden) mutation developed postoperative thrombotic complications. Contusions: The prevalence of FV(Leiden) in patients is 4.5% that is not different from that of the population at large. There was no identifiable association with the occurrence of postoperative thrombotic events.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1176-1180
Number of pages5
JournalCanadian Journal of Anaesthesia
Volume45
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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