[Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in a girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia carrying the prothrombin G20210A variant]

Abstract

Although cerebral venous thrombosis is rare, it is more commonly associated with children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We report the case of a 7-year-old girl who developed massive cerebral sinovenous thrombosis on day 22 of induction therapy for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Clinical symptoms were gradual onset of headache, decreasing consciousness, and ensuing left hemiplegia. A subsequent prothrombotic study revealed a heterozygous prothrombin G20210A variant in the child and mother. We analysed the prothrombotic factors found in the case before and after thrombosis. We confirm the importance of early exploration of patients for clinical predisposing risk factors of thrombosis and primary prothrombotic states in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This might help identify patients at particular risk from thrombosis and so administer thromboprophylaxis.