[High levels of factor VIIIc and risk of venous thrombosis: critical analysis of case-control studies].
BACKGROUND
Deep venous thrombosis is a frequent and potentially serious disease. Its causes are multifactorial, associating facilitating circumstances and genetic or acquired coagulation abnormalities. Genetic currently well known abnormalities are quantitative deficiencies of some natural anticoagulants (proteins C and S, antithrombin), and mutations of V and II (G20210-A) genes. The Leiden group has recently shown that the elevation of some coagulation factors level could also constitute a risk factor for deep venous thrombosis.


BACKGROUND
Elevation of factor VIIIc is associated with a higher risk for thrombosis than in the general population but the threshold for normality of this factor is difficult to define. It is a probable constitutional abnormality whose prevalence in the general population vary from 6 to 36%. Risks of deep venous thrombosis associated to this factor elevation is more elevated in patients who have this anomaly (odds ratios vary from 2,2 to 10,3) (95% CI).


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of this anomaly and its association with a high risk for thrombosis are reasons to assess the potential usefulness of screening for these anomalies in patients who had thrombosis or in their family. The probable genetic origin of these anomalies has to be confirmed by other studies.
Benjaber
K
K
ISPED (unité Inserm 330) université Victor-Segalen Bordeaux 2, 146, rue Léo-Saignat, 33076 cedex, Bordeaux, France. wurida@yahoo.com <wurida@yahoo.com>
Constans
J
J
Cougnard
A
A
Salmi
L-R
LR
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics
D005169:Factor VIII