Factor V Leiden Mutation and Color of Skin in Arabs

Abstract

Background: Factor V Leiden mutation (FVL; G1691A) was reported in high percentages of white-skin Caucasians but was almost absent in non-white populations like Africans and Asians. In addition, studies found FVL in high percentage of Arabs, who consist of both white and non-white populations, but none of these studies sight saw the skin color of their positive cases. This study was an expansion of a previous study to determine FVL in Arabs living in Kuwait in regards to skin color, and to determine if it is present in white-skin Arabs only or in all Arabs. Methods: Real-time PCR was performed to detect FVL in 311 healthy Arabs living in Kuwait who were from 9 Arab countries. Results:The results revealed 28 cases (9%) with FVL: 14/126 white-skin cases (11.11%), 14/185 non-white cases (7.57%). No significant difference was present between the two groups (p = 0.384282). Conclusions: This study reports that FVL is present in all Arabs regardless of skin color. It is recommended to do FVL test, when needed, for all Arab cases and not only for white-skin Arabs.