Protein S deficiency, activated protein C resistance and sticky platelet syndrome in a young woman with bilateral strokes

Background: Coagulation disorders are common in young adults (age less than 55 years) with ischemic stroke. Objectives: To describe a young woman with bilateral strokes of undetermined etiology who had th ree significant hemostatic disturbances. These were protein S deficiency, Factor V Leiden heterozygosity, and sticky platelet syndrome. The Factor V Leiden mutation was also present in one of her children. Conclusions: Young patients with cryptogenic stroke warrant a thorough evaluation for hypercoagulable states. More than one coagulation disorder can coexist in the same patient and the spectrum of hemostatic abnormalities may influence the patient's treatment and may have implications for screening of other family members.