RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Thrombophilia and first arterial ischaemic stroke: a systematic review JF Archives of Disease in Childhood JO Arch Dis Child FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP 402 OP 405 DO 10.1136/adc.2004.049163 VO 90 IS 4 A1 S Haywood A1 R Liesner A1 S Pindora A1 V Ganesan YR 2005 UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/90/4/402.abstract AB Aims: To undertake a systematic review of the literature reporting the prevalence of thrombophilia in children with a first arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS). Methods: Systematic review of case-control studies reporting data for prevalence of protein C, S, and antithrombin (AT) deficiencies, activated protein C resistance (APCr), total plasma homocysteine >95th centile, the thrombophilic mutations factor V1691 GA, prothrombin 20210GA, and MTHFR C677T in children with first, radiologically confirmed, AIS. Results: Of 1437 potentially relevant citations, 18 met inclusion criteria. A total of 3235 patients and 9019 controls had been studied. Results of meta-analyses were expressed as pooled odds ratios (OR) relating the prevalence of the thrombophilic condition in children with AIS to that in controls. The pooled OR (and 95% CI) were: protein C deficiency, 6.49 (2.96 to 14.27); protein S deficiency, 1.14 (0.34 to 3.80); AT deficiency, 1.02 (0.28 to 3.67); APCr, 1.34 (0.16 to 11.52); FV1691 GA, 1.22 (0.80 to 1.87); PT20210GA, 1.10 (0.51 to 2.34); MTHFR C677T, 1.70 (1.23 to 2.34); and total plasma homocysteine >95th centile, 1.36 (0.53 to 3.51). There was no statistical heterogeneity within these data. Conclusions: All factors examined were more common in children with first AIS than in controls, and significantly so for protein C deficiency and the MTHFR C677T mutation. The implications of thrombophilia for prognosis and recurrence need to be established before clinical recommendations can be made regarding investigation and treatment of children with AIS.