We suggest that prothrombin mutation but not FV Leiden should be considered as a modest genetic risk factor for large artery disease stroke subtype in the Moroccan population.
In conclusion, our data suggest that FIIG20210A and/or Leiden FV might be involved as risk factor for arterial disorders in about 5% of old subjects, justifying the opportunity of a genetic screening and an eventual preventive treatment, in particular in old subjects in which other and major risk factors, as hypertension and atherosclerosis, are detected.
The role of this common polymorphism, as well as that of prothrombin levels, in determining the risk of arterial disease is still somewhat controversial.
The heterozygous 20210 G/Aprothrombin genotype is associated with early venous thrombosis in inherited thrombophilias and is not increased in frequency in artery disease.
These data support the hypothesis that the prothrombin variant is a risk factor for venous thrombosis and suggest that it may also be a risk factor for arterial disease.