Postpartum intracranial venous thrombosis associated with dysfunctional protein C and deficiency of protein S.

Development of intracranial dural sinus thrombosis in the postpartum period has been attributed to the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy. With increasing recognition of the role of the vitamin K-dependent proteins, protein C and protein S, in intracranial venous and arterial thrombotic events, our understanding of the cause of thrombotic events has improved. We report a patient who developed a superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in the second week postpartum, associated with a dysfunctional protein C and a decreased free protein S concentration.