Thromb Haemost 2006; 96(06): 744-749
DOI: 10.1160/TH06-06-0328
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in first-degree relatives of patients with venous thromboembolism who have factor V Leiden

Francis Couturaud
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Clive Kearon
4   McMaster University and the Henderson Research Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
,
Christophe Leroyer
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Bernard Mercier
2   Transfusion Centre, Brest, France
,
Jean Francois Abgrall
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Grégoire Le Gal
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Karine Lacut
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Emmanuel Oger
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Luc Bressollette
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Claude Ferec
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
Michel Lamure
3   Statistical Department, Lyon, France
,
Dominique Mottier
1   G.E.T.B.O. (Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale), EA 3878, Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Brest, France
,
for the Groupe d’Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale (G.E.T.B.O)› Author Affiliations

Financial support: This study is granted by a national source “Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique” 1995 and 1996. Drs. Kearon is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 June 2006

Accepted after resubmission 23 October 2006

Publication Date:
29 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

The factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation, a genetic abnormality with an autosomal mode of inheritance, is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We aimed to determine the annual incidence of VTE in first-degree relatives of patients with VTE and FVL and to identify factors in patients and the relatives that influence this incidence. In this retrospective and prospective cohort study, the incidence of objectively diagnosed first episodes of VTE was assessed in 553 first-degree relatives of 161 patients with acute VTE and FVL. The annual incidence of VTE was 0.43% (95% CI, 0.3 to 0.56) with FVL and 0.17 % (95% CI, 0.07 to 0.27) without FVL (relative risk of 2.5, 95% CI, 1.3 to 4.7). A majority (70%) of episodes of VTE were provoked, and this proportion was similar with and without FVL. A larger proportion of VTE was provoked in women (83%) that in men (33%), with the difference accounted for by pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives. The proportion of pregnancies complicated by VTE was 3.9% (95% CI, 2.0–5.8) with FVL and 1.4% (95% CI, 0.04–2.7) without FVL. FVL is associated with a two-to threefold increase in VTE in first-degree relatives of patients with VTE. No subgroup of relatives was identified who require more than routine prophylaxis because of a particularly high risk of VTE.