Association study of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A1298C mutation with cerebral venous thrombosis risk in an Iranian population

Lateral sinus thrombosis in a young patient with sudden neurosensorial hearing loss and genetic thrombophilia: A case report

Sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) with a sudden onset is frequently encountered as a medical emergency in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) practice. The exact pathophysiology of the disease remains unknown, with the most likely etiologies being viral infection, inflammation, drug toxicity, trauma, or autoimmune response. Even though thrombophilia and cerebrovascular complications may lead, among others, to sudden neurosensorial hearing loss, its diagnosis is most often made following the onset of thrombotic complications. A case of a young female patient with unknown congenital hypercoagulation status complicated with lateral sinus thrombosis and unilateral drug-induced reversible hearing loss is presented. Molecular testing confirmed the diagnosis of genetic thrombophilia, due to the homozygous V Leiden, homozygous MTHFR A1298C, and heterozygous MTHFR C677T mutations. Although hereditary thrombophilia is a well-known topic in medical practice, current guidelines require continuous improvement, especially among patients treated in departments where this pathology is more difficult to recognize and manage.

Targeted gene expression study using TaqMan low density array to gain insights into venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) pathogenesis at high altitude

Venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) is multi-factorial disease involving several genetic and acquired risk factors responsible for its onset. It may occur spontaneously upon climbing at High Altitude (HA). Several studies demonstrated that hypoxic conditions prevailing at HA pose an independent risk factor for VTE; however, molecular mechanism remains unknown. Present study aims to identify genes associated with HA-induced VTE pathophysiology using real time TaqMan Low-Density Array (TLDA) of known candidate genes. Gene expression of total 93 genes were studied and analyzed in patients of VTE from HA (HA-VTE) and from sea level (SL-VTE) in comparison to respective controls. Both HA-VTE and SL-VTE patients showed up-regulation of 37 genes involved in blood coagulation cascade, clot formation, platelet formation, endothelial response, angiogenesis, cell adhesion and calcium channel activity. Seven genes including ACE, EREG, C8A, DLG2, USF1, F2 and PCDHA7 were up-regulated in both HA-controls and VTE patients (both HA-VTE and SL-VTE) indicating their role during VTE event and also upon HA exposure. Ten genes; CDH18, FGA, EDNBR, GATA2, MAPK9, BCAR1, FRK, F11, PCDHA1 and ST8SIA4 were uniquely up-regulated in HA-VTE. The differentially expressed genes from the present study could be determining factors for HA-VTE susceptibility and provide insights into VTE occurrence at HA.