Acute quadriplegia in a young man secondary to prothrombin G20210A mutation

We present the case of an 18-year-old man, previously healthy, who presented with acute quadriplegia and respiratory failure. Physical examination was compatible with a high cervical anterior spinal cord lesion.

We plan to evaluate the cause of such a neurological presentation in a healthy young man.

American University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

The patient underwent routine blood hematological and chemistry work-up, hypercoagulable profile studies, genetic profile for thrombophelias, radiographic studies of the brain and cervical cord, cerebrospinal analysis and extensive electrophyisological studies.

Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiogram of the brain, carotid and intracranial vessels were normal. Cerebral angiography was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical cord revealed lesion of the anterior segment of the cervical cord between C2 and C5 levels. Hypercoagulable profile studies were normal. Electrophysiological studies confirmed an isolated lesion of the descending cortico-spinal tracts. DNA analysis revealed the presence of a G20210A mutation-causing hyperprothrombinemia.

We conclude that a G20210A mutation causing-hyperprothrombinemia can cause anterior spinal artery thrombosis and anterior spinal cord infarction with the resultant neurological deficits in otherwise healthy patients.