[Prothrombotic states and cerebral ischemia]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Hematology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Hematological disorders are uncommon causes of cerebral ischemia, accounting for 4% of strokes in young individuals.
• Prothrombotic hematological conditions increase ischemic stroke risk and can directly cause cerebral infarction, even without other risk factors.
• The exact frequency of cerebral infarctions attributed to prothrombotic states remains unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review prothrombotic coagulopathies as causes of cerebral infarction.
• To explore the role of conditions like activated protein C resistance and antiphospholipid syndrome in cerebral infarction.
• To discuss the mechanisms of neurological involvement in these hematological disorders.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on prothrombotic coagulopathies.
• Analysis of disorders including resistance to activated protein C and antiphospholipid syndrome.
• Examination of cerebral venous thrombosis and arterial origin cerebral infarction.

Main Results:

• Prothrombotic states, including antiphospholipid syndrome, are significant causes of cerebral infarction.
• Neurological involvement often presents as cerebral venous thrombosis or arterial infarction.
• Pathophysiological mechanisms include embolism and extracranial/intracranial vessel thrombosis.

Conclusions:

• Prothrombotic states likely explain a substantial proportion of cryptogenic cerebral infarctions in young people.
• Identifying these hematological causes is crucial for understanding and managing stroke in younger populations.