Mesenteric vein thrombosis due to factor V Leiden gene mutation

Background: Mesenteric venous thrombosis is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain that may be the result of coagulation abnormalities. Methods: Four consecutive patients with mesenteric venous thrombosis underwent haematological evaluation. Results: All four had activated protein C resistance resulting from a single mutation in the gene coding for coagulation factor V. Three had surgery; in one patient the diagnosis was made by ultrasonography. One of the patients who had surgery died but the other three survived and were treated with long-term anticoagulation. Conclusion: Activated protein C resistance may be an important pathogenetic factor in primary mesenteric vein thrombosis.