Aims: A recently identified polymorphism in factor V gene (His1299Arg; also named HR2) has been reported to be a possible risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), with a high prevalence of 9.5-15.2% in patients of different ethnic groups in different parts of the world. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of HR2 haplotype in Lebanon.
Methods: We randomly selected 125 samples from unrelated donors logged into our HLA registry; these represent healthy Lebanese individuals originating from different provinces and religious communities of the country. Their DNA was extracted using the Pel-Freez extraction kit and stored at -80 degrees C for later use. The CVD StripAssay was used for PCR and reverse hybridisation. It screens for several gene mutations including factor V H1299R.
Results: A total of 125 controls were studied: 72 males and 53 females with a median age 42 years. Thirteen (10.4%) had the HR2 haplotype; 11 (8.8%) were heterozygous (R1/R2), and two (1.6%) were homozygous (R2/R2), with an allelic frequency of 0.06.
Conclusions: Our study is the first report from Lebanon that describes the prevalence of HR2 haplotype and the frequency of its alleles. We are reporting a high prevalence of the HR2 in our population (10.4%). The hypothesis that A4070G polymorphism might contribute to the expression of a thrombotic phenotype deserves to be tested in our population through larger studies.