Puerperal cerebral venous thrombosis associated with decreased free protein S : a case report

• Published in: Journal of reproductive medicine Vol. 40; no. 12; pp. 859 - 862
• Main Authors: GALAN, H. L, MCDOWELL, A. B, JOHNSON, P. R, KUEHL, T. J, KNIGHT, A. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saint-Louis, MO Science 01-12-1995
• Subjects: Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Delivery. Postpartum. Lactation; Disorders; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis - diagnosis; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis - drug therapy; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis - etiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Protein S Deficiency - blood; Protein S Deficiency - complications; Puerperal Disorders - diagnosis; Puerperal Disorders - drug therapy; Puerperal Disorders - etiology; Risk Factors; Vascular disease; Case study; Human; Deficiency; Cerebral vein; Cardiovascular disease; Complication; Female; Vitronectin; Puerperium; Thrombosis
• ISSN: 0024-7758; 1943-3565

Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare event with multiple risk factors. This condition can be associated with a hypercoagulable state, such as that seen with dysfunctional or decreased plasma protein C and protein S. Both plasma proteins are naturally occurring, vitamin K-dependent anticoagulants that are important for regulation of the clotting cascade.
A postpartum patient presented with complaints of a severe headache and hypertension and later developed status epilepticus. She was found to have superior sagittal sinus and right internal jugular vein thrombosis and protein S deficiency.
The combination of protein S deficiency and the further reduction due to pregnancy may enhance the risk of major thrombotic episodes in the peripartum period.