MedWire News: People who carry a particular variant of a gene called factor XII C46T face an increased risk of blood clots in the brain, called cerebral venous thrombosis, which can cause strokes, researchers have found.

Dr Christoph Lichy, from the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and team explain that although cerebral venous thrombosis is rare and causes just 0.5% of all strokes, around 10% of people with the condition die of a stroke or related causes.

For their study, the team compared the genetic make-up of 78 people with cerebral venous thrombosis and 201 healthy people.

The researchers particularly focused on the factor XII C46T gene, which plays a role in blood clotting.

They found that around 17% of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis carried a particular variant of the factor XII C46T gene, compared with just 6% of those without the condition.

The findings remained true after accounting for factors that can affect the blood clotting process, such as age, gender, smoking habits and the use of oral contraceptives.

Dr Lichy concluded: "These results need to be confirmed, but it appears that people with cerebral venous thrombosis should be tested for this gene and should be considered for use of blood thinning medication to prevent future blood clots."

The research is published in the journal Neurology.