Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas are not associated with prothrombotic factors.
OBJECTIVE
The cause of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) is unknown. In intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas, an association with factor V Leiden mutation has been found. Therefore, we studied the association between prothrombotic factors and SDAVF.


METHODS
Factor V Leiden mutation, factor II mutation, protein S, protein C, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, antithrombin III, and lupus anticoagulant were determined by means of standard laboratory tests in 40 patients and 119 control subjects matched for sex and age.


RESULTS
Factor V Leiden mutation was not found in the patient group and was found twice in the control group. Factor II mutation was found in 1 patient and in none of the control subjects. There was no decreased activity of protein S, protein C, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, or antithrombin III in patients in comparison with controls. Lupus anticoagulant was not found in the patient group and once in the control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that it is unlikely that prothrombotic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas, but subtle associations are not ruled out.
Jellema
K
K
Department of Neurology, St. Elisabeth Hospital Tilburg, The Netherlands. K.Jellema@elisabeth.nl
Tijssen
C C
CC
Fijnheer
R
R
de Groot
P G
PG
Koudstaal
P J
PJ
van Gijn
J
J
D020016:Activated Protein C Resistance / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D020152:Antithrombin III Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D020151:Protein C Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D017293:Protein S / Q000235:genetics; D018455:Protein S Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000235:genetics
D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D017293:Protein S; C095381:factor V Leiden; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005165:Factor V; D011516:Prothrombin; D005169:Factor VIII