SCREENING FOR THROMBOPHILIA IN STROKE: ARE WE OKAY?

Abstract

Stroke is now a global epidemic. It is on the rise, especially among the young population. The mechanism of stroke needs to be determined for appropriate management. Unfortunately, 40 percent of young strokes have an unknown aetiology. So, we should not leave any stone unturned to nd a possibility to treat. Thrombophilia in stroke is one such condition and is still a neglected entity in many parts of the world. Clinicians need to remember the appropriate time to test, the methodology, standard laboratory values, and the selection of patients for lifelong anticoagulation. In the absence of denitive data, it should be practised to obtain testing for hypercoagulable conditions in patients who have a personal or family history of systemic thromboses, no clear aetiology for ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and clinical ndings that suggest systemic lupus erythematosus or the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome