Is testing for inherited coagulation inhibitor deficiencies in young stroke patients worthwhile?
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that in patients under age 50, with a first, arterial, ischemic cerebral infarct, whose family history and medical history do not suggest an inherited coagulation inhibitor deficiency, the yield of a laboratory search for these disorders will be low.


METHODS
In 55 such patients under age 50, we systematically searched for deficiencies of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III.


RESULTS
No abnormalities of protein C or antithrombin III were found. One patient had a deficiency of protein S, which was most likely acquired rather than inherited.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients who lack clinical features of a prothrombotic state, the yield of testing for protein C, S and AT III deficiency is likely to be low.
Amiri
M
M
Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Mail Stop 500, 4301 West Markham, 72205, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Schmidley
J W
JW
Fink
L M
LM
Nazarian
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D020152:Antithrombin III Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D020151:Protein C Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D018455:Protein S Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*