Cerebral vein thrombosis and lupus anticoagulant antibodies

Cerebral Vein Thrombosis in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Analysis of a Series of 27 Patients and Review of the Literature

(1) Background: The Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by arterial and/or venous thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity and raised titers of antiphospholipid antibodies. Cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) is a rare form of cerebrovascular accident and an uncommon APS manifestation; the information in the literature about this feature consists of case reports and small case series. Our purpose is to describe the particular characteristics of CVT when occurs as part of the APS and compare our series with the patients published in the literature. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study collecting data from medical records in three referral centers for APS and CVT, and a systematic review of the literature for CVT cases in APS patients. (3) Results: Twenty-seven APS patients with CVT were identified in our medical records, the majority of them diagnosed as primary APS and with the CVT being the first manifestation of the disease; additional risk factors for thrombosis were identified. The review of the literature yielded 86 cases, with similar characteristics as those of our retrospective series. (4) Conclusions: To our knowledge, our study is the largest CVT series in APS patients published to date, providing a unique point of view in this rare thrombotic manifestation.

Elevated Factor VIII Levels and Shortened APTT in Recurrent Abortions

INTRODUCTION

Thrombotic disorders have been found to be associated with recurrent abortions. Several risk factors have been identified. APTT reflects the common pathway and intrinsic pathway of coagulation cascade and hence is a good marker for thrombotic work. Elevated factor VIII: C has also been identified as risk factor for recurrent miscarriage. This study aims at identifying association of elevated factor VIII levels, shortened APTT and recurrent abortions in Indian population as little has been studied about this and the literature available is also based on studies done in European population. This study also aims to find whether shortened APTT can be an independent risk as well.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Women referred to the obstetrics department with a history of early recurrent early pregnancy loss (at least three pregnancy losses before 13 weeks of gestation) were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were elevated CRP levels, positive antiphospholipid antibodies, endocrine, immunological or anatomical cause of embryo demise. A total of 68 cases of recurrent abortion were included in this study, 68 normal pregnant females (<15 weeks of gestation) were also included as controls with no history of abortion. The age group of the cases as well as control was 20-45 years. Activated partial thromboplastin time and factor VIII assay (one stage APTT based) were done on the blood samples.

RESULTS

Increased factor VIII levels were seen in 25 cases (36.4%); 19 cases showed shortened APTT (27.3%); 12 cases showed both increased factor VIII levels as well as shortened APTT (18%). All risk factors were negative in 36 cases (52.9%). None of the controls showed elevated factor VIII levels or shortened APTT. The mean APTT values of the control subjects was 31.01 and cases were 27.01 (p=0.001). The mean factor VIII levels of case were 152.85% and control 144.953% (p=0.012).

CONCLUSION

There was significant association between recurrent abortions and elevated factor VIII :c levels and shortened APTT. Shortened APTT was also identified as an independent risk factor.

Sudden adult death

In the investigation of sudden death in adults, channelopathies, such as long QT syndrome, have risen to the fore in the minds of forensic pathologists in recent years. Examples of these disorders are touched upon in this review as an absence of abnormal findings at postmortem examination is characteristic and the importance of considering the diagnosis lies in the heritable nature of these conditions. Typically, a diagnosis of a possible channelopathy is evoked as an explanation for a 'negative autopsy' in a case of apparent sudden natural death. However, the one potential adverse effect of this approach is that subtle causes of sudden death may be overlooked. The intention of this article is to review and discuss potential causes of sudden adult death (mostly natural) that should be considered before resorting to a diagnosis of possible channelopathy. Nonetheless, it becomes apparent that many of the potential causes of sudden death can have a genetic basis. Thus, it becomes an important consideration that there may be a genetic basis to sudden death that extends beyond the negative autopsy.

Thrombophilic abnormalities, oral contraceptives, and risk of cerebral vein thrombosis: a meta-analysis

Recent studies suggest that thrombophilic abnormalities and the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) are the leading causes of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT). The purpose of this study was to assess the association between CVT and thrombophilic states, OCs, and their interaction. For data sources, we used the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases (January 1994 to March 2005), reference lists of retrieved articles, and contact with content experts. We selected studies comparing the prevalence of OC use and the prevalence of prothrombitic abnormalities in patients with CVT compared with healthy controls. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted study characteristics, quality, and outcomes. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for each trial and pooled using the Mantel-Haenszel method. Seventeen studies were included. There was an increased risk of CVT in patients using OCs (OR 5.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.95 to 7.91; P < .001), and in patients with factor V Leiden (OR 3.38; 95% CI 2.27 to 5.05; P < .001), with mutation G20 210A of prothrombin (OR 9.27; 95% CI 5.85 to 14.67; P < .001) and with hyperhomocysteinemia (OR 4.07; 95% CI 2.54 to 6.52; P < .001). We concluded that OC users, and patients with factor V Leiden, the prothrombin G20 120A mutation, and hyperhomocysteinemia are at a significantly increased risk of CVT.