This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 35/9/2069    most recent 01.STR.0000135766.22285.dcv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jellema, K. Articles by van Gijn, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jellema, K. Articles by van Gijn, J. Related Collections Deep vein thrombosis Thrombophilia Other Research

(Stroke. 2004;35:2069.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas Are Not Associated With Prothrombotic Factors

K. Jellema, MD; C.C. Tijssen, MD, PhD; R. Fijnheer, MD, PhD; P.G. de Groot, PhD; P.J. Koudstaal, MD, PhD J. van Gijn, MD, FRCP

From the Department of Neurology (K.J., C.C.T.), St. Elisabeth Hospital Tilburg, the Netherlands; and the Departments of Hematology (R.F., P.G.d.G.) and Neurology (J.v.G.), University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands; and the Department of Neurology (P.J.K.), Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Correspondence to Dr K. Jellema, St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis, P.O. Box 90151, 5000 LC Tilburg, the Netherlands. E-mail K.Jellema{at}elisabeth.nl

Background and Purpose— The cause of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) is unknown. In intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas, an association with factor V Leiden mutation has been found. Therefore, we studied the association between prothrombotic factors and SDAVF.

Methods— Factor V Leiden mutation, factor II mutation, protein S, protein C, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, antithrombin III, and lupus anticoagulant were determined by means of standard laboratory tests in 40 patients and 119 control subjects matched for sex and age.

Results— Factor V Leiden mutation was not found in the patient group and was found twice in the control group. Factor II mutation was found in 1 patient and in none of the control subjects. There was no decreased activity of protein S, protein C, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, or antithrombin III in patients in comparison with controls. Lupus anticoagulant was not found in the patient group and once in the control subjects.

Conclusions— We conclude that it is unlikely that prothrombotic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas, but subtle associations are not ruled out.

Key Words: arteriovenous fistula • spinal cord • thrombophilia

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Jellema, C. C. Tijssen, and J. v. Gijn Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas: a congestive myelopathy that initially mimics a peripheral nerve disorder Brain, December 1, 2006; 129(12): 3150 - 3164. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]