Factor V Leiden in pregnancies complicated by placental abruption

Objective Recent studies suggest an increased prevalence of obstetric complications in female carriers of hereditary or acquired thrombophilias. The aim of the study was to determine if carriership of the factor V (FV) Leiden mutation (activated protein C [APC] resistance) is higher in women who have had of placental abruption during pregnancy. Design A retrospective case-control study. Setting University Hospital MAS, Malmo, Sweden. Methods A comparison of 102 women with placental abruption with 2371 prospectively collected controls. Carriership of FV Leiden was determined and the women were interviewed. Main outcome measures Proportion of FV Leiden carriership, first degree heritage of thrombosis and previous placental abruption in cases and controls. Results Carriage of FV Leiden was found in 15.7% of women who have had placental abruption as compared with 10.8% of controls (P = 0.12, odds ratio [OR] = 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.9-2.7). Around 20% of women with placental abruption reported first degree heritage for venous thrombosis, as compared with 6.7% of controls (P less than or equal to 0.001). Conclusions FV Leiden carriership was not significantly different in women with placental abruption. However, there was an increased prevalence of first degree heritage for venous thrombosis in women with placental abruption, indicating a higher prevalence of thrombophilia among women with placental abruption.