Mansoor Nadeem, M Ayub, M Naeem Khan, Farooq Khattak, Azmat Rashid, M Muzaffar, M Saleem.
Lupus Anticoagulant as a cause of Stroke in young Adults.
J Rawal Med Coll Jan ;2(1-2):15-7.

The lupus anticoagulant belongs to family of immunoglobulins and is most commonly an Ig G isotype. This antibody (LA) has been identified in association with thromboembolic disease. We studied 52 patients of both sexes presenting with stroke before the age of 45 years, for presence of lupus anticoagulant. These patients were subdivided into three age groups. Group I comprised of 16 patients between ages 18 and 25 years ( male 6; female 10) group 2 between 26 and 35 years (male 16; female 6), group 3 between age 36 and 45 years (male 12, female 2)Three female patients in group 1 and one male patient of group 2 showed positive test for lupus anticoagulant. Presence of LA was subsequently confirmed by platelet neutralization test. Screening for collagen vascular disease was negative in all of these cases. This study has shown that the problem of stroke in young adults is not very uncommon, as we have recorded 52 patients in 15 months time. Amongst our cases, 7.69% were found to have positive test for LA projecting its significance. In group 1, 62.5% of the patients were female signifying the fact that the females dominate younger age groups and as the age advances the male dominate. This may be due to difference in aetiology in different age and sex groups. This paper also presents details of result and pathophysiology of thromboembolism associated with LA.

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