Venous thromboembolism, factor V Leiden, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in a sickle cell anemia patient.

Vaso-occlusive crisis is the most common cause of morbidity in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Central nervous system involvement that leads to hemiplegia is the most frequent neurological complication in those patients. Peripheral deep venous thromboembolism was not reported in SCA patients. Activated protein C resistance is associated with an increased risk of thrombophilia. The authors report an SCA patient with recurrent cerebrovascular accident and deep venous thrombosis. Activated protein C resistance due to factor V Leiden heterozygous and heterozygocity for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase were diagnosed and suspected to be the risk factors that contribute to the development of the deep vein thrombosis in this SCA patient.