FACTOR-V-LEIDEN MUTATION - AN UNRECOGNIZED CAUSE OF HEMIPLEGIC CEREBRAL-PALSY, NEONATAL STROKE, AND PLACENTAL THROMBOSIS

Activated protein C resistance caused by an Arg(506)Gln mutation in th e factor V gene (factor V Leiden mutation) is the most common cause of familial thrombosis. This mutation is associated with arterial and, v enous thromboembolic disease in neonates, infants, and children, but i s not a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke in adults. We repo rt on 3 babies with different neonatal cerebrovascular disorders inclu ding ischemic infarction and hemorrhagic stroke who are heterozygous f or factor V Leiden mutation. One infant had multiple thrombi in the fe tal placental vasculature. This is the first reported association betw een hemiplegic cerebral palsy, placenta thrombosis, and factor V Leide n mutation, We suspect that activated protein C resistance may be an i mportant cause of in utero cerebrovascular disease and hemiplegic cere bral palsy.