title: Resistance to activated protein C as a risk factor of stroke in a thalassemic patient.
abstract: It is well known that thalassemic patients exhibit an increased frequency of thrombotic events. Most individuals with resistance to activated protein C (APCR) are the result of a point mutation replacing Arg 506 with Gln in the factor V aminoacidic sequence (factor V Leiden). Recently APCR has been shown to account for up to 50% of cases of thrombophilia. In this report, we describe a 10 year old thalassemic intermedia patient heterozygous for Factor V R506Q who developed a stroke following transfusion. Coagulation laboratory values were all within the normal range and there was no evidence of a lupus anticoagulant. Computerized brain tomography showed an ischemic area in the left temporo-parietal region. At follow-up, plasma from the patient demonstrated APCR and molecular diagnostic testing revealed heterozygosity for factor V R506Q. We suggest that the heterozygosity for factor V Leiden could increase the thrombotic risk in thalassemia intermedia. We believe it may be beneficial to screen all intermedia thalassemic patients for APCR especially before starting a transfusional regimen.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sabato
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schettini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iolascon
mesh_terms: D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011486:Protein C / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C; D005165:Factor V