CONGENITAL DEFICIENCY OF FACTOR-VII IN SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE

Background Factor VII is essential for coagulation activation by the e xtrinsic pathway. Hemorrhages of the central nervous system in patient s with congenital factor VII deficiency seem to have a higher incidenc e compared with other congenital coagulopathies. The purpose of this p aper is to report two rare cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage and factor VII deficiency. Case Description Two cases of women affected by a con genital deficiency of factor VII and subarachnoid hemorrhage are repor ted. Diagnosis was obtained by cerebral computer tomography; cerebral panangiography was normal. Complete coagulation studies were performed showing prothrombin time prolongation and factor VII deficiency. In o ne patient, family studies revealed the existence of a similar coagula tion disorder. Conclusions We suggest routine coagulation studies in a ll patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Determination of factor VII activity might be performed in patients with normal activated partial thromboplastin time and prolonged prothrombin time.