Deficiencies of proteins C, S and antithrombin and factor V Leiden and the risk of ischemic strokes.

Although hypercoagulable states are most often associated with venous thromboses, arterial thromboses are reported in protein C, protein S, antithrombin deficient patients and in those with factor V Leiden, components of hereditary thrombophilia. Because these arterial thromboses (peripheral artery disease, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction) mostly affect young persons, aged below 45 years, it is important to test and treat these thrombophilic defects. Because the relation thrombophilia--arterial thromboses is still under debate, due to conflicting data, this article is a review of studies published in literature regarding the implication of the above-mentioned thrombophilic defects in cerebral infarcts.