Indian Journal of Medical Sciences Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Journal of Medical Sciences Trust ISSN: 0019-5359 EISSN: 1998-3654 Vol. 58, Num. 11, 2004, pp. 488-489

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, Vol. 58, No. 11, November, 2004, pp. 488-489

Letter To Editor

Thrombophilia markers in acute myocardial infarction of the young

Beyan Cengiz, Ifran Ahmet, Kaptan Kursat

Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Hematology, 06010 Etlik, Ankara
Correspondence Address:Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Hematology, 06010 Etlik, Ankara cbeyan@yahoo.com; cengizbeyan@hotmail.com

Code Number: ms04082

Sir,

We have read the results of the study "Combination of thrombophilia markers in acute myocardial infarction (MI) of the young" published in Indian Journal of Medical Sciences with great interest.[1] As already known, data about thrombophiliac conditions are derived mainly from Caucasian populations and this study is especially important because it is one of the unique studies addressing thrombophiliac factors in Indian population. Another unique feature of the study is the higher incidence of factor V Leiden in cases with arterial thrombosis (young acute MI patients) while factor V Leiden is reported considerably low in Indian population. According to the proposals based upon previous studies, it is accepted that hereditary thrombophilia is a major risk factor for venous thrombosis and it is not recommended to perform tests such as factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation except antiphospholipid antibody and hyperhomocysteinemia.[2] Parallel to these, it is interesting that in this study at least one thrombotic risk factor was established in 72,5% of cases with arterial thrombosis. We wonder whether the young acute MI study patients who have thrombotic risk factors (except dysfibrinogenemia, MTHFR and hyperhomocysteinemia) experienced any venous thrombotic event before? Finally, were these patients investigated for sticky platelet syndrome? As you know, sticky platelet syndrome is characterized by hyperaggregability of platelets and it is accepted as the underlying cause in 21% of unexplained arterial events.[3] In conclusion, as the authors implied, more comprehensive studies are needed in young MI patients for correct interpretation of the study results which are quite different from previous studies.

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