The factor V Leiden mutation is not a common cause of recurrent miscarriage.
Some investigators suggest that placental thrombosis and infarction can cause recurrent miscarriage.
We have shown that the common missense mutation in the factor V gene, the Leiden mutation, which renders factor Va resistant to cleavage inactivation by activated protein C, predisposes to placental thrombosis and spontaneous miscarriage. Our objective was to determine the frequency of the Leiden mutation in a population with well-characterized idiopathic recurrent miscarriage. V gene followed by allele-specific restriction with Mnl1 for mutation detection. Results were analyzed with a chi 2 contingency table. None of the 40 women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage carried the mutation and only one of their reproductive partners was heterozygous for the mutation.