A novel factor V mutation causes a normal activated protein C ratio despite the presence of a heterozygous F5 R506Q (factor V Leiden) mutation

Abstract

Activated protein C (APC) resistance (Dahlback et al, 1993) is a common risk factor for venous thromboembolism (Bucciarelli et al, 1999). This phenotype is highly associated with the F5 R506Q (F5 rs6025; factor V Leiden, FVL) mutation (Bertina et al, 1994). Heterozygous and homozygous discrepancies between F5 R506Q genotype and phenotype (APC resistance), known as pseudo-homozygosity, have been described (Castaman et al, 1997; Brugge et al, 2005). This incidental phenomenon suggests that, based on APC-resistance testing, there is a homozygous F5 R506Q mutation, yet, genetic testing only shows a heterozygous F5 R506Q mutation (Simioni et al, 1996). In such cases, polymorphisms located on the second factor V (FV) protein coding allele (i.e. wild-type for F5 R506Q) cause intracellular decreased FV protein production, leading to reduced FV activity (Castoldi et al, 1998). In contrast, the phenomenon “pseudo-wild-type” FVL, suggesting a wild-type F5 R506Q according to APC resistance testing but heterozygous F5 R506Q mutation by genetic testing, is infrequently described (Dargaud et al, 2003; Asselta et al, 2004). In these two studies, the polymorphisms responsible for the reduced FV protein levels were found to be located on the same FV protein coding allele, together with the F5 R506Q mutation.