A patient with a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and a deep intracerebral haemorrhage.

Abstract

We report on a 57-year-old woman with a pontine haemorrhage and an extremely prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of more than 240 s, suggestive of a coagulation disorder. Given the location of the haemorrhage, which is associated with a high mortality rate, recombinant factor VIIa was administered, although not all necessary laboratory analyses could be performed at that time. In our case, a deficiency of factor XII was found, which is not associated with an increased bleeding risk. In an acute setting, evaluation of a prolonged aPTT may cause diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, in particular in situations where additional laboratory investigations may not be readily available.

• Authors: Roger K Schindhelm, Mariëlle J Wondergem, Joke Admiraal, Gert Nap, Edwin Ten Boekel, Lahcen Hani
• Journal: Case reports in neurology (Case Rep Neurol) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 131-6 (May 2012) ISSN: 1662-680X [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 22949911 (Publication Type: Case Reports)