Evaluation of expression of genes associated with post-thrombotic syndrome

Abstract The prediction of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) development among patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is currently based on clinical characteristics alone; reliable biomarkers are unavailable. In this study, the expression of myeloperoxidase ( MPO), Fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 ( FLT4 ), and coagulation Factor XIII A chain ( F13A1 ) was evaluated to identify novel biomarkers of PTS. F13A1 of the clotting cascade stabilizes the thrombus; MPO interacts with the endothelium; and FLT4 encodes a vascular endothelium-derived growth factor receptor that participates in angiogenesis. This study evaluated nine patients stratified into three different groups. The control group included three healthy patients; the second group included three patients with DVT without PTS (group II); and the third group included three patients with PTS (group III). The expression of MPO, FLT4 , and F13A1 was evaluated in the three groups. A significant decrease in FLT4 expression (ΔCt -2.71; gene expression 0.03, p=0.11 in group II; ΔCt -2.44; gene expression 0.01, p=0.05 in group III) and a non-significant difference in MPO gene expression were found among the three groups; however, there was a notable progressive increase in F13A1 expression (ΔCt 6.54; gene expression 3.5, p=0.02). Despite the low sampling rate in the present study, the decreased FLT4 expression and increased of F13A1 expression may represent biomarkers of PTS.