Beta-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms in patients with elevated factor VIII levels with venous thrombosis
James O'Donnell, Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, Ducane Road, East Acton, London W12 ONN, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Summary. Beta-blockers significantly reduce elevated factor VIII (FVIII) levels in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). To determine whether β-adrenergic receptors are important in the aetiology of high FVIII levels, we investigated four coding polymorphisms of the β1- and β2-receptor genes in 64 patients with high FVIII and VTE and 100 healthy controls. Genotypic and allelic frequencies were not significantly different between the patient and control groups. However, a significant dosage effect of the β2 E27 allele on plasma FVIII coagulant activity levels was observed in normal group O individuals.
