Central European Journal of Medicine
Double-Trouble: An Unusual Case
of Two Simultaneous Arterial Thromboses
in Thrombophilia
* E-mail: majadare@eunet.rs
Received 25 August 2011; Accepted 29 September 2011
Abstract: Multiple arterial and venous thromboses are usually related to thrombophilia or antiphospholipid syndrome. Recurrent pulmonary
embolism strongly indicates the presence of genetic or acquired thrombophilic factors. Simultaneous double arterial in situ thrombo-
ses are unusual, even in thrombophilic conditions. Simultaneous occurrence of pulmonary embolism and cerebrovascular ischaemic
insult are highly indicative of existence of patent foramen ovale. We present herein a patient with the double simultaneous arterial
thromboses as the manifestation of thrombophilia (heterozygous for methylenetetrahydrofolate-reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene
mutation). There was no patent foramen ovale suspected upon the patient`s admittance to hospital. To the best of our knowledge
there have been no similar cases presented to date.
© Versita Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: Arterial thrombosis • Simultaneous thromboses • C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation •
Therapy • Diagnosis
1
University Clinical Hospital Center Bezanijska Kosa,
Department of Cardiology,
11000 Belgrade, Serbia
2
University Clinical Hospital Center Zemun,
Department of Haematology,
11000 Belgrade, Serbia
3
Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade,
11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Mirjana Krotin
1,3
, Marija Zdravkovic
1,3*
, Danica Popovic-Lisulov
1
, Jelena Saric
1
,
Dusica Celeketic
2,3
, Mirna Zaja
1
, Darko Zdravkovic
1,3
Case report
1. Introduction
Multiple arterial and venous thromboses are usually
related to thrombophilia or antiphospholipid syndrome.
Recurrent pulmonary embolism strongly indicates a
presence of genetic or acquired thrombophilic factors
[1]. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is usually a major clinical
manifestation of venous thromboembolism [2], while in
situ thrombosis in the pulmonary artery is rare and is
most often related to an underlying thrombophilic condi-
tion. Factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin gene mutation
G20210A (FII G20210), genetic variant C677T of the
methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), as well
as the polymorphism A2 (PlA2) in platelet glycoprotein
IIb/IIIa and antiphospholipid syndrome have recently
been discussed as possible causes of recurrent throm-
boses [3,4]. The C677T variant of MTHFR has recently
also been suggested as a risk factor for venous and
arterial thrombosis resulting in a thermo-stable, less
active enzyme form [5].
Simultaneous double arterial in situ thromboses are
unusual, even in thrombophilic conditions. Simultaneous
occurrence of pulmonary embolism and cerebrovascu-
lar ischaemic insult are highly indicative of existence of
patent foramen ovale6. We present an unusual case of
Cent. Eur. J. Med. • 7(1) • 2012 • 91-94
DOI: 10.2478/s11536-011-0110-5
91
Unauthenticated
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