Atrial and venous thrombosis secondary to septic arthritis of the sacroiliac joint in a child with hereditary protein C deficiency

Septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in children is seldom accompanied by cal f vein thrombosis and rarely by atrial thrombosis. We report the case of an 11-year, 5-month-old boy with septic arthritis and osteomyelitis of the sa croiliac region who developed deep venous thrombosis, in addition to life; threatening right atrial thrombosis. After an intensive hematologic investi gation, a hereditary protein C deficiency was revealed. The association of venous thrombosis with septic arthritis or osteomyelitis should raise the p ossibility of the presence of protein C deficiency.