Determinants of premature familial arterial thrombosis in patient with Juvenile ischaemic stroke. The Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults ( IPSYS)

Factors predicting family history (FH) of premature arterial thrombosis in young patients with ischaemic stroke (IS) have not been extensively investigated, and whether they might influence the risk of post-stroke recurrence is still unknown. In the present study we analysed 1,881 consecutive first-ever IS patients aged 18-45 years recruited from January 2000 to January 2012 as part of the Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults (IPSYS). FH of premature arterial thrombosis was any thrombotic event [IS, myocardial infarction or other arterial events event] <45 years in proband's first-degree relatives. Compared with patients without FH of premature arterial thrombosis, those with FH (n = 85) were more often smokers (odds ratio [OR], 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-3.09) and carriers of procoagulant abnormalities (OR, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.21-6.06). Smoking (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.20-5.15), the A1691 mutation in factor V gene (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 1.31-10.10), and the A20210 mutation in the prothrombin gene (OR, : 8.40; 95% CI 3.35-21.05) were associated with FH of premature stroke (n = 33), while circulating anti-phospholipids to FH of premature myocardial infarction (n = 45; OR, 3.48; 95% CI, 1.61-7.51). Mean follow-up time was 46.6 +/- 38.6 months. Recurrent events occurred more frequently in the subgroup of patients with FH of premature stroke [19.4%); p = 0.051] compared to patients without such a FH. In conclusion, young IS patients with FH of premature arterial thrombosis exhibit a distinct risk-factor profile, an underlying procoagulant state and have worse vascular prognosis than those with no, FH of juvenile thrombotic events.