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Coagulation Disorders and Stroke

By Jose Vega M.D., Ph.D., About.com

Updated: November 17, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Leg blood clots can travel to the brain and cause a strokePhoto © A.D.A.M.

Coagulation disorders are medical conditions in which blood clot formation is abnormal, causing people to develop a tendency to clot too much, or too little. Either of these problems can increase a person's risk of stroke.

For example, when people tend to clot too much they form blood clots inappropriately, even if they are not bleeding. Blood clots can form in their legs when they sit for long periods of time, such as in a long car or plane ride, or if they suffer from certain heart conditions which cause blood to pool inside the heart. The blood clots can find their way into the brain and cause an embolic stroke.

Blood clots can also form inside the brain itself especially if there is inflammation in its blood vessels, such as it happens with autoimmune diseases like lupus.

But sometimes the opposite occurs and people cannot form blood clots even when the body needs them to stop bleeding. This can happen due to genetic diseases such as hemophilia and others, or simply due to the use of blood thinners. Such a disorder puts people at risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Common blood tests used to look for a blood clotting disorder

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