Influence of the factor V Leiden mutation on infectious disease susceptibility and outcome: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
The effect of the coagulation factor V Leiden mutation on infectious disease susceptibility and outcome is controversial.


METHODS
We genotyped 9253 individuals from the Copenhagen City Heart Study for the factor V Leiden mutation. The risk of hospitalization for any infectious disease during a follow-up period of 7.2 years and subsequent risk of disease progression to death were estimated by Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis.


RESULTS
During 66,789 person-years of follow-up, 1093 persons were hospitalized because of infection. The risk of urinary-tract infection was decreased in factor V Leiden heterozygotes, compared with that in noncarriers (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 0.55 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31-0.99]), whereas the risk of skin infection was increased (aRR, 1.68 [95% CI, 1.07-2.66]). No associations between carrier status and risk of diarrheal disease, other viral infections, parasitic infections, pneumonia, sepsis, or upper respiratory-tract infection were detected. However, in subjects hospitalized for sepsis, factor V Leiden carriers were at an increased risk of mortality 28 days after admission, compared with noncarriers (aRR, 4.41; 95% CI, 1.42-13.67]).


CONCLUSIONS
In the Danish general population, the factor V Leiden mutation may be associated with infectious disease susceptibility and an increased risk of mortality from sepsis.
Benfield
Thomas L
TL
Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. tlb@cphiv.dk
Dahl
Mortens
M
Nordestgaard
Borge G
BG
Tybjaerg-Hansen
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D003718:Denmark; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018805:Sepsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*
C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V