Background
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) such as polycythemia Vera (PV) and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) can be associated with a high risk of both venous and arterial thrombosis. However, the co-existence between these two complications is very rare and has never been described before, especially in young adults with no known history of MPNs.
Case presentation
We report the case of a 39 year-old Caucasian Moroccan male patient without cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), who presented with acute chest pain. He also suffered from a severe headache since 2 weeks. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in the posterolateral leads. Cerebral Computed Tomography (CT) scan revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and cerebral Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) found a Superior Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis (SSST). Routine blood tests showed raised hemoglobin and hematocrit in addition to leukocytosis and thrombocythemia. His coronary angiography revealed a thrombus in the ostial left circumflex artery (LCX). Further testing revealed positive Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F mutation and low erythropoietin level, confirming the diagnosis of PV according to the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Antithrombotic and anti-ischemic treatments, in addition to myelosuppressive therapy with hydroxyurea, were initiated with a good clinical and biological evolution.
Conclusion
This case shows that MPNs are an important cause of thrombosis, especially in young patients with no other risk factors. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are fundamental before the occurrence of life-threatening complications that can sometimes present in unusual forms associating arterial and venous thrombotic events.
BackgroundHemorrhagic complications are quite common in the rare cases where thrombolysis is performed. Ischemic stroke in the aftermath of thrombolysis for a ST elevation myocardial infarction is a very rare and paradoxical complication. With these observations in mind we report two interesting cases of ischemic stroke which occurred after fibrinolytic therapy with tenecteplase for a ST elevation myocardial infarction.Case presentationThe first case was a 56-year-old African man who presented with an acute infero-basal ST elevation myocardial infarction 6 hours after chest pain onset. Thrombolysis with tenecteplase was performed and few minutes later an ischemic stroke occurred. The second patient was a 65-year-old African man who presented with an acute infero-basal ST elevation myocardial infarction 5 hours after chest pain onset. Thrombolysis was performed and 10 hours later an ischemic stroke occurred.ConclusionsHemorrhagic stroke is not the only complication of thrombolysis, ischemic stroke can occur even if it is an extremely rare complication. The two cases on which we report shed light on the association between fibrinolytic therapy and ischemic stroke, the pathophysiology of which is not well understood.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.