Medical Management of a Mural Thrombus Inducing Repeated Ischemic Strokes in a Patient with Congenital Afibrinogenemia

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2022 Jul;31(7):106526. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106526. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Abstract

Objectives: Congenital afibrinogenemia is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder that can cause thrombotic as well as hemorrhagic events. We describe a case of repeated mild ischemic strokes due to a mural thrombus in the carotid artery and our medical treatment.

Case description: A 49-year-old woman with congenital afibrinogenemia developed two minor ischemic strokes in two months. Clinical images revealed scattered fresh infarcts in the right middle cerebral artery region and mild cervical carotid artery stenosis. The risk for surgical treatment was considered to be extraordinarily high. The patient was treated with 100 mg/day of aspirin and 3 g fibrinogen infusion every two weeks. After the one-year course of medication, the mural thrombus gradually decreased, and there were no bleeding or ischemic stroke events.

Conclusion: This case report highlights the successful treatment of an ischemic stroke in a patient with a congenital afibrinogenemia with an antiplatelet agent and fibrinogen replacement. There are no guidelines for managing ischemic stroke in patients with congenital afibrinogenemia, and further studies are needed.

Keywords: Congenital afibrinogenemia; Ischemic stroke; Medical management; Thrombus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Afibrinogenemia* / complications
  • Afibrinogenemia* / diagnosis
  • Afibrinogenemia* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fibrinogen
  • Heart Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Hemorrhage
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Stroke* / diagnostic imaging
  • Ischemic Stroke* / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Thrombosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thrombosis* / drug therapy
  • Thrombosis* / etiology

Substances

  • Fibrinogen