Gene Variants Associated With Deep Vein Thrombosis

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Abstract
The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is 1 per 1000 person-years.1 The 10-year recurrence risk is 30%.2 Deep vein thrombosis can lead to life-threatening pulmonary embolism.3 Deep vein thrombosis is caused by acquired and genetic risk factors. Acquired risk factors include age, hospitalization, cancer, pregnancy, hormone therapy, and surgery.2 Family and twin studies indicate that genetics accounts for about 60% of the risk for DVT.4,5 Deficiencies of natural anticoagulants antithrombin, protein C, and protein S are strong risk factors for DVT; however, the variants causing these deficiencies are rare and explain only about 1% of all DVTs.6 Two more common genetic variants, Factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin G20210A, have been consistently found to be associated with DVT7,8 but still only explain a fraction of the DVT events.6 It has been suggested that 2 or more risk factors are needed for thrombosis.6,9,10