• Vol. 28 No. 2, 252–255
  • 15 March 1999

Activated Protein C Resistance: A Study Among 60 Thromboembolic Patients in the Singapore Population

ABSTRACT

Resistance to activated protein C (APC-R) is the commonest inherited cause of thrombosis among Caucasians. Few studies have been carried out on its prevalence in Asians. We conducted a prospective study on 60 patients with thromboembolism to determine its prevalence in our local population. The Factor V Leiden (VaQ506) mutation associated with this condition was detected by amplification of the Factor V gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digestion of the fragment with Mnl I. Three patients were found to be heterozygous for this mutation. None of the 3 patients had other concomitant hypercoagulable states. In addition, we studied the prevalence of this condition in Malays which was found to be 0.5%. Our study suggests that the incidence of APC-R is much lower here compared to the West.


In 1993, Dahlback and colleagues described a new hereditary thrombophilia state-activated protein C resistance (AK-R). Further studies showed this to be the commonest genetic cause of thrombophilia.

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