Lori,

There is no study that I am aware of that has established the relationship between FVL and strokes. FVL has primarily been associate with Venous Thromboemblism vice arterial clotting.

I'll ask Dr. Moll if he is aware of any correlation since he one of the researchers here in the U.S.

Regards,
Tom in Connecticut

Thanks, Tom. I appreciate it.
You continue to rock my world.
Lori

Sorry to hear about your mom and hoping she is doing ok soon.
I had also read that FVL is not really associated with stroke but my question is about long term Coumadin use and increased stroke risk. I mean the clotting disorders lead to the blood thinners and then does stroke risk increase? So is there an increased risk because of the treatment?

High dose treatment with Coumadin "can" cause calcification of the arteries. This condition can predispose a patient to heart attacks and strokes. There have been studies in rats which showed Vitamin K supplements can help. Unfortunately, not enough scientific studies have been performed to conclude if patients on high dose Coumadin should be taking a Vitamin K supplement.

Regards,
Tom in Connecticut

On the bottom of page 2 of my lab results stating I was FVL homozygous it says:
The factor v Leiden (R506Q) mutation is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism, recurrent miscarriage, complications of pregnancy, and possible arterial thrombosis.

So based on this, I'd think it's possible that FVL could be a risk factor for stroke. Being homozygous, I know my mother carries at least one FVL mutated gene and HER mother suffered multi-infarc dementia. That's dementia caused by lots of mini-strokes, not Alzheimers. My father also carries at least one mutated gene, and HIS mother died of a massive heart attack. No way of knowing if they were FVL unless my parents test out as homozygous, and even then it could just be coincidence.
Best wishes to your mom! Is she taking warfarin?

Here is some data from the National Institute of Health (NIH) here in the U.S.:

Arterial thrombosis. The role of factor V Leiden in arterial disease is controversial, with conflicting results from different studies. Most studies of unselected adult populations found no association between presence of a factor V Leiden allele and an increased risk of myocardial infarction or stroke [Cushman et al 1998]. A meta-analysis of 33 studies and including 25,053 individuals found no significant association with myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease either collectively or individually [Kim & Becker 2003], However, a more recent larger meta-analysis found that a factor V Leiden allele conferred a moderately increased risk for coronary disease and myocardial infarction [Ye et al 2006]. Although consensus holds that the presence of a factor V Leiden allele is not a major risk factor for MI or stroke, some data suggest that it may contribute to the risk of arterial thrombotic events in selected subgroups of individuals.

Regards,
Tom in connecticut

Great info T! I hope I'm not in the "selected subgroup"....I wonder what that is!

Laura,

Since Dr. Mary Cushman of the University of Vermont was one of the researchers (see Cushman 1998) I'll ask for more data from her. Dr. Moll is on travel currently visiting with the folks from Congress down in Washington DC along with the rest of my organization (I'm the odd man out, no vacation time following my hip replacement surgery from December).

Regards,
Tom in Connecticut

Thanks guys

My mom is here with me now and we are reading this together. She says she appreciates the info and thanks you all. :)
So do i.

We are all still waiting on results.

You guys are awesome!