Several recent studies have reported that the factor V Arg506-->Gln mutation is present in 3-10% of adults of European descent. To determine if the prevalence is comparable among Blacks, we have initiated a case-control study in a large urban hospital in Atlanta which serves a substantial black population. We have evaluated 131 black subjects with confirmed venous or arterial thrombosis and 61 black subjects without a history of thrombosis. Only one case and one control were positive for the Arg506-->Gln mutation. We conclude that the mutation is more common among Whites than Blacks.
National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA.
