Background and objectives: Factor V (FV) deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder whose molecular bases are poorly characterized. We have recently described a FV missense mutation (Y1702C) predicting reduced FV levels in a thrombophilic patient and in a healthy individual. The aim of the present work was to assess the prevalence of the FV Y1702C mutation among subjects with FV deficiency.
Design and methods: Carriership of the FV Y1702C mutation was tested in 8 patients with severe FV deficiency (FV:C <8%), in 16 individuals with asymptomatic partial FV deficiency (mean FV:C 38.0%, SD 11.6%) and in 9 patients with pseudo-homozygous APC-resistance (mean FV:C 46.2%, SD 3.6%). An AccI-restriction protocol was employed for rapid mutation screening.
Results: The FV Y1702C mutation was detected in two unrelated patients with unmeasurable FV levels (one being homozygous and the other doubly heterozygous for a still unknown mutation) and in one subject with partial FV deficiency (FV:C 30%). A striking difference in bleeding phenotype was observed between the homozygous patient and her asymptomatic brother with the same FV genotype. A multi-point FV haplotype analysis was performed in all unrelated carriers of the FV Y1702C mutation. Three haplotypes were found to underlie the mutation in different individuals, suggesting that it might have arisen independently more than once.
Interpretation and conclusions: FV Y1702C is a common cause of FV deficiency in the Italian population and might be a recurrent mutation.