An Audit of Thrombophilia Testing in Patients with Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: The Futility of Testing

Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases : the Official Journal of National Stroke Association
Chakri GavvaRavi Sarode

Abstract

Many patients admitted with an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) undergo thrombophilia testing. There is limited evidence to support this practice. We examined the effect of thrombophilia testing on management of patients admitted with an ischemic stroke or TIA. In this retrospective observational single-center study, we identified patients who were admitted with stroke or TIA and underwent thrombophilia testing over a 45-month period. We reviewed their electronic medical records to assess whether testing affected clinical management, defined as anticoagulation treatment by the time of discharge due to a positive test result. Secondary endpoints included potential misdiagnosis due to false positive results and cost of testing. Testing was performed in 143 patients with a stroke or TIA. Forty-four patients (31%) had at least 1 positive test result. The most common positive tests were an elevated factor VIII activity (18% of patients tested) and decreased protein S activity (11% of patients tested). Both of these tests are subject to acute phase effects. Testing altered clinical management in only 1 patient (1% of total patients tested). Thirty-three patients (75%) have the potential for carrying a misdiagnosis d...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 20, 2021·Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/hemostasis : Official Journal of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis·Samuel A Berkman, Shlee S Song

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Brain Ischemia

Brain ischemia is a condition in which there is insufficient blood flow to the brain to meet metabolic demand. Discover the latest research on brain ischemia here.