What are the Most Common Features of Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin Mutations?
Individuals with factor V or prothrombin mutations have a greater chance for experiencing venous thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, recurrent miscarriages, pulmonary embolism (blood clot within an artery of the lung), and heart attack. Presence of the factor V mutation increases the risk for venous thrombosis 7-fold in heterozygotes (people carrying one copy of the mutation) and 80-fold in homozygotes (people carrying 2 copies of the mutation). The prothrombin mutation increases the risk for venous thrombosis 3 to 6-fold in heterozygotes and dramatically (the exact number is undetermined) in homozygotes. Certain situations and conditions increase the risk further; including pregnancy, obesity, malignancy, trauma, lupus anticoagulant, oral contraceptive use, surgery, estrogen therapy, diabetes mellitus, immobilization, and the presence of other defects in the coagulation pathway. How are the Factor V (Leiden) and Prothrombin Mutations Inherited? These disorders have autoso
