Basilar Artery Occlusion Associated with Protein C Deficiency: Successful Treatment Using Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Infusion

Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent serine protease with both anticoagulant and fibrinolytic properties. Its absence or reduced concentration is frequently associated with an increased risk for venous thrombosis, but only rarely with arterial thrombotic disorders. We describe a young woman with partial protein C deficiency who developed acute basilar artery occlusion associated with progressive, life-threatening brain stem dysfunction. Recanalization was safely achieved by intravenous use of clot-selective fibrinolytic agents.