Objective: Three genetic mutations have been associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events: factor V Leiden R506Q, prothrombin G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T (MTHFR) mutations. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of these mutations on patency of peripheral bypass procedures and preoperative and postoperative thromboembolic events.
Methods: Two hundred forty-four randomly selected volunteers participating in the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study #362 were tested for factor V Leiden, prothrombin, or MTHFR mutations with polymerase chain reaction.