FREE PROTEIN-S SPECTRUM IN YOUNG-PATIENTS WITH STROKE

Up to 4% of strokes in young people are attributed to hematologic diso rders. Deficiencies of natural anticoagulant proteins have recently be en associated with ischemic strokes. The aim of this study was to dete rmine the frequency of protein S deficiency following stroke in young patients and the course of these deficiencies. We studied natural anti coagulant proteins in a group of 26 patients under 45 years of age, ho spitalized for a first ischemic stroke. Blood samples were collected w ith a mean delay of 1.91 (+/- 0.97) months after stroke onset. Free pr otein S (FPS) deficiency was found in 2 patients (7.69%): inherited FP S deficiency in 1 case and transient FPS deficiency in 1 case. No abno rmality of protein C or antithrombin III was observed. A significant d ecrease in FPS was found in patients with respect to a control group o f 27 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. In conclusion, a decrease of FPS following ischemic stroke might be transient and could be relat ed to thrombogenesis.