Prothrombin 20210A and oral contraceptive use as risk factors for cerebral venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the association between cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) and the mutations FV 1691A (factor V Leiden), PT 20210A and MTHFR 677TT and acquired factors including oral contraceptive (OC) use.

METHODS

26 patients (21 females) and 217 healthy controls (134 females) were studied. Multiple regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The frequency of the three mutations in cases and controls were: PT 20210A, 23 versus 1%, odds ratio (OR) 21.40 (95% CI 4.29-118.75), p < 0.001; FV 1691A, 8 versus 1%, OR 5.94 (95% CI 0.66-46.9); MTHFR 677TT, 4 versus 7%, OR 0.54 (95% CI 0.03-4.08). OC use was more frequent in female patients over 14 years old than in controls (84 vs. 40%, OR 8.15, 95% CI 2.09-37.13, p < 0.001). The model that best explained the thrombotic risk included PT 20210A and OC use.

CONCLUSIONS

PT 20210A and OC use are the main thrombophilic risk factors predisposing to CVT and should be routinely investigated in patients with this disease.