ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Leiden mutation (missense mutation in the factor V gene at exon 10, 1691 CGA to CAA) in Korean women with well characterized pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) compared with normotensive gravid women. METHODS: Genomic DNA from 121 PIH cases and 98 normotensive pregnant control cases were used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To genotype Leiden mutation (missense mutation in the factor V gene, exon 10 (1691 G to A)), primers (5'-TGC CCA GTG CTT AAC AAG ACC A-3', 5'-TGT TAT CAC ACT GGT GCT AA-3') were employed to make 267 base pair (bp) PCR product. There was an initial denaturation at 94 degrees C 5 min, followed by 30 cycles of one minute at 94 degrees C, one minute at 55 degrees C, and one minute at 72 degrees C. A 267 bp PCR product was further digested with Mnl I for 2 hour at 37 degrees C and analysed through 12% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to determine genotype. Allele 1691G yielded 37 bp, 67 bp, 163 bp fragment and allele 1691A yielded 67 bp, 200 bp fragment. RESULTS: We examined the genotypes of factor V of 121 Korean women with pregnant induced hypertension and 98 normal pregnant women. None of the 219 Korean women carried the factor V Leiden mutation. CONCLUSION: The factor V Leiden mutation is absent and not a common cause of PIH in Korean women.