Cerebral infarct associated with prothrombin gene G 20210 A variant in a Turkish child with cystic fibrosis: an unusual coexistence

Thrombophilia in children with cystic fibrosis

In some children with cystic fibrosis (CF), percutaneous long lines occlude sooner than expected (due to thrombophlebitis or thrombosis), and many have a totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD), a recognized complication of which is thrombosis. This complication is more likely if the child has an underlying thrombotic tendency, which may be enhanced in the presence of inflammatory lung disease. There are no reports of an identified association of heritable thrombophilia with CF, although individual cases have been recognized. Our aim was to determine the incidence of thrombophilia in children with CF. In a tertiary pediatric CF center, blood was screened for thrombophilia at annual review, and retested if abnormal. A thrombotic abnormality was found in 41/204 (20%) patients. These included activated protein C resistance (10/204, 5%) with a prevalence similar to that expected, but the following abnormalities had an increased prevalence: antithrombin deficiency (2/204, 1%), protein S deficiency (11/204, 5%), protein C deficiency (8/204, 4%), and lupus anticoagulant (18/204, 9%). There were no differences found in those with thrombophilia for the following parameters: age, gender, genotype, lung function, presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, prothrombin time, serum IgE, aspergillus-specific IgE, liver function, and blood inflammatory markers. Fifteen children had TIVADs, 4 of whom had evidence of thrombophilia. In conclusion, a significant proportion of patients had a thrombophilic abnormality. We recommend that thrombophilia screening be performed prior to insertion of a TIVAD, and also in those with a history of venous thrombosis, blocked TIVADs, or recurring problems with long lines.

Prevalence of thrombophilia and catheter-related thrombosis in cystic fibrosis

Venous thrombosis in children and young adults is frequently associated with predisposing conditions and with an indwelling catheter or totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD). These systems are commonly used for the delivery of antibiotic therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We reviewed our CF center's history of catheter-related events over 13 years and prospectively investigated the presence of risk factors for thrombosis in 66 children and adults with CF (age, 3-38 years; 32 females). Five thrombotic events had occurred in 4 patients, 2 of whom carried the factor V Leiden mutation. Five asymptomatic patients were diagnosed with heterozygous mutations of the factor V or prothrombin gene. Functional activity of protein C was decreased in 13 subjects, with a correlation to impaired liver function. Protein S activity was abnormal in 20 patients and was related to CF genotype. Anti-phospholipid antibodies (APA) were present in 6 asymptomatic patients. A reinvestigation after 3 years confirmed protein S deficiency in 12 of 14 patients, while most abnormalities for protein C or APA were inconsistent. In conclusion, a thrombophilic state was detected in 53% of patients, and 2 out of 4 subjects with TIVAD-related thrombosis carried a genetic defect. It may thus be helpful to include a hemostatic evaluation in the clinical decision process for or against TIVAD insertion in eligible CF patients.