Objectives: Around 30% of ischemic strokes are considered cryptogenic. We analyzed the diagnostic yield of prothrombotic state (PS) studies in patients with an initial cryptogenic stroke (CS).
Material and methods: We prospectively included consecutive CS patients according to the TOAST criteria. PS included plasmatic determinations of antiphospholipid (APL) antibodies and lupus anticoagulant (LA), S (SPd) and C (CPd) protein deficiencies, and genetic analysis of the prothrombin gene mutation (PT G20210A) and the factor V Leiden mutation (FV G1691A). We recorded age, sex and vascular risk factors.
Results: From a total of 89 patients (mean age 56.9 +/- 14.3 years, 53% men), we identified 16 PS in 15 patients (16.85%): APL-6, LA-2, SPd-2, CPd-1, PT G20210A -3 and FV G1691A -2. One patient presented an association (APL and PT G20210A).
Conclusions: One of every six patients with initial CS present a PS. Age or sex and conventional cardiovascular risk factors were not related to PS study findings, supporting the relevance of such studies in all patients with an initial CS.