Protein C deficiency manifesting as an acute myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Hematology

Background:

• Protein C deficiency is a rare inherited disorder affecting blood coagulation.
• It is primarily associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE).
• Emerging evidence suggests a potential role in arterial thrombosis.

Observation:

• This report details a patient presenting with both myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke.
• These arterial events were linked to Protein C deficiency.
• This represents the first documented case of concurrent MI and stroke in a patient with this deficiency.

Findings:

• Protein C deficiency, though typically linked to VTE, can manifest as arterial thrombosis.
• Myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke can occur simultaneously due to Protein C deficiency.
• This case expands the known clinical spectrum of Protein C deficiency.

Implications:

• Investigating hypercoagulable states is crucial in young patients with MI.
• Early diagnosis and management of Protein C deficiency may prevent recurrent arterial events.
• This finding underscores the need to consider rare genetic disorders in unexplained thrombotic events.