A Study of Prevalence of Activated Protein C Resistance and Leiden Mutation among Korean Patients with Venous Ulcers / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recently, resistance to activated protein C(APC) is known to be an important risk factor for venous leg ulcers. Leiden mutation in clotting factor V is the most common genetic defect leading to APC resistance in western countries. Until now, the prevalence of APC resistance and Leiden mutation in Korean patients with venous ulcers has been ill defined. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in order to investigate the prevalence of APC resistance and Leiden mutation in Korean patients with venous ulcers. METHODS: The functional analysis for APC resistance(APC resistance ratio) and genetic study for Leiden mutation were conducted in 40 patients with venous ulcers. RESULTS: 1. Of the 40 patients with venous ulcers, resistance to APC was documented in 11 individuals (27.5%). 2. We could not find factor V Leiden mutation in 40 patients. 3. Patients with APC resistance more frequently represented recurrence of venous ulcers and venous thrombosis than in their non-APC resistant counterparts. CONCLUSION: APC resistance may be one of the thrombophilic defects in relation with venous ulcers in Korea. However, Leiden mutation may be rare in Korean patients with venous ulcers than in Caucasians. These findings suggested that the other genetic or non-genetic factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of APC resistance in Korea.