Hypercoagulable states and strokes.

Several hematologic disorders and hemostatic defects increase risk of ischemic stroke. A common feature of these disorders is the creation of a prothrombotic state, now commonly referred to as "hypercoagulable state." Hematologic diseases such as essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura clearly cause stroke. Effective treatment is now available for these disorders. Association of hemostatic defects with stroke risk is still at the investigational stage. Although a number of factors such as soluble thrombomodulin, fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 are associated with stroke risk, their predictive values remain unknown. Furthermore, causal relationship has not been established.