Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene G 20210 A variant in children with ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if the factor V Leiden mutation (F-V-LM) and/or the prothrombin gene G 20210 A variant (P-G20210A-V) are risk factors for acute stroke in Austrian children.


METHODS
33 children with acute ischemic stroke documented by computer tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were enrolled in an open multicenter survey.


RESULTS
6/33 children had F-V-LM (5 heterozygous, 1 homozygous). This represents 18% (95% CI: 6.7-39.9%) of our pediatric stroke population and thus exceeds the expected prevalence in the Austrian population of 4,6% (Fischer's exact test, p = 0.01). F-V-LM was not found in 11 children with neonatal stroke but in 6/22 children with stroke after the neonatal period. 5/6 children with F-V-LM had an underlying disorder that is a risk factor for stroke in children. The P-G20210A-V was detected in 1/26 (3.85%; 95% CI: 0.1-21.4%) patients. Comparison of the prevalence of P-G20210A-V in our study with that in the general population of Austria of 1% revealed no statistical significance (Fischer's exact test, p = 0.38).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the F-V-LM is a risk factor for acute stroke in Austrian children beyond the neonatal period. The P-G20210A-V apparently does not represent a risk factor for stroke in Austrian children.
Zenz
W
W
Department of Pediatrics, University of Graz, Austria. werner.zenz@kfunigraz.ac.at
Bodó
Z
Z
Plotho
J
J
Streif
W
W
Male
C
C
Bernert
G
G
Rauter
L
L
Ebetsberger
G
G
Kaltenbrunner
K
K
Kurnik
P
P
Lischka
A
A
Paky
F
F
Ploier
R
R
Höfler
G
G
Mannhalter
C
C
Muntean
W
W
D020016:Activated Protein C Resistance / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000235:genetics*; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V; D011516:Prothrombin