Bilateral carotid dissection and factor V mutation: a second case

Abstract

A young woman 38 years of age underwent Doppler ultrasonography following the spontaneous appearance of cervical pain causing loss of sleep. The examination revealed bilateral dissection of the internal carotid arteries, confirmed by supraaortic arteriography. Two successive CT scans showed no cerebral lesions. A thrombosis of the great saphenous vein was recorded as the only vascular event in her medical history. Thrombophilia was assessed following discovery of the dissection, and upon examination a heterozygotic mutation of Factor V Leiden was revealed. This observation is the second case of carotid dissection occurring in a subject presenting a factor V mutation. At the present time, however, there are no results to justify the assumption of a direct link between these two pathologies.