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Archiver > MAPLYMOU > 2001-03 > 0983988746


From: Eugene Hubbard <>
Subject: Re: An Unforseen Dividend
Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2001 13:12:26 -0500
References: <NEBBKFGLMLMMOPFNIECHKEGJCGAA.chandler@firstva.com>


Hello, Harlow:

You are correct in questioning the Leiden connection.
That was my doing, because I have three ancestors from
Leiden who arrived on the Mayflower. As it would turn
out, 4 people have contacted me personally since I sent
the message, and all have direct experience, or a parent
did. Three of them have Brewsters in their background.
A coincidence? Of course, the Brewsters and the Hopkins
were English, so although I originally thought the problem
was associated with the people of Holland, I was certainly
in error. Nevertheless, if one person has a better life having
benefited from my experience, I think the alert was well-
founded, don't you?

As for the frequency in the population, I visited a
"Leiden" Website, and basically what it says is
that there is a small segment of both Europeans and
Americans who suffer the genetic defect. If there
is one gene involved the possibility of a blod clot is
comparatively low compared to the risk when two
genes are inherited. Nevertheless, the risk of a blood
clot is there. (see copy of web page below:)

In my opinion, the outcome of a blood clot is so
catastrophic that no one should minimize the matter.
The problem is, that the knowledge is so new that many
doctors, including my personal physician, have no idea
of the matter. In my case, the hospital itself put me through
two cat scans, 4 sets of X-Rays, an echo cardiogram, an electro-
cardiogram, a dopler venous imaging, all to no avail. It was
a foreign-born, 1st year resident who ordered the test for
me that identifed me as having a defective gene. Had the
blood test been done in the emergency room, much of the
testing done above would have been unnecessary.

Quote:

Factor V Leiden is associated with the following complications:

Venous thrombosis (Blood clots, especially with oral contraceptives)
DVT (Deep vein thrombosis - blood clots in veins)
Unexplained miscarriage
Blood clots in the lungs (or anywhere else)
Gall bladder dysfunction
Preeclampsia and/or eclapsia (toxemia while pregnant)
Stroke and/or Heart Attack.

If you have experienced any of these complications, you may have Factor V
Leiden.

A simple blood test, available since 1993, can test for this disorder.

End Quote.

'Gene

Harlow Chandler wrote:

> Gene, and other concerned cousins,
>
> The risk factor you mentioned is from what I have found relatively
> widespread, especially among caucasian Americans and certain Europeans. It
> is an inherited defect, and there are tests. However, I wonder about the
> association with Brewster or other descendants. Here is one quotation from
> one website--there are others that say the same thing, but this is succinct:
>
> "The factor V G1691A-mutation was discovered in 1994 by the Bertina group in
> Leiden, and therefore it is called 'Factor V Leiden' "
>
> http://www.oeglm.at/wissen_02.htm
>
> I am not qualified to do more than ask a question here--which is, is there
> really any reason to link this mutation to people who lived in Leiden as
> mentioned at the end of the portion of the message quoted below?
>
> >From what I have seen it looks like this is a condition which may affect
> around one in twenty or a bit more caucasians in this country, and a lower
> proportion in other ethnic groups. I have found nothing singling out people
> whose ancestors lived in Leiden, but I don't claim to have seen everything.
> Can you help here, or should we assume our risk is the same as the rest of
> the population?
>
> Whether it comes from Leiden ancestors or not, it's still worth learning
> about--thanks Gene.
>
> ***-----Original Message-----
> ***From: Eugene Hubbard [mailto:]
> ***Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 11:11 AM
> ***To:
> ***Subject: An Unforseen Dividend
> ***
> ***
> ***Hello, List:
> ***
> ***We all have our reasons for doing genealogy,
> ***and many take pleasure in finding their ancestors.
> ***In my case, I am the beneficiary of an unforseen
> ***dividend. I am a Pilgrim descendant who has
> ***just found out I carry a genetic abnormality.
> ***
> ***I am writing you as a form of public service in
> ***order to alert you to a possible health problem
> ***which is connected to those having lived in Leiden,
> ***Holland.
>
> ==============================
> 9 Health Tips for Computer Genealogists
> http://www.thirdage.com/features/tech/ouch/

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