Related Experiment Videos
Behçet's disease as a causative factor of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: subgroup analysis of data from the VENOST
Derya Uluduz1, Ipek Midi2, Taskin Duman3
1School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Istanbul Cerrahpasa University, Istanbul.
Insights
Behçet's disease (BD) causes cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in 9.4% of patients. Those with BD-associated CVST were younger males, with good outcomes despite initial symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disorder.
- Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare but serious complication.
- The association between BD and CVST requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of CVST in patients with Behçet's disease.
- To characterize the demographic and clinical features of BD-associated CVST.
- To evaluate the prognosis of CVST in patients with BD.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the multicentre VEnous sinus thrombosis (VENOST) study.
- Inclusion of 1144 patients diagnosed with CVST.
- Classification of patients based on etiological factors, symptom onset, sinus involvement, treatment, and prognosis.
Main Results:
- Behçet's disease was identified as a cause of CVST in 108 (9.4%) of 1144 patients.
- BD patients with CVST were younger (mean age 35.27 years) and predominantly male (68.5%) compared to non-BD CVST patients.
- Headache and visual field defects were the most common symptoms; transverse and superior sagittal sinuses were most frequently affected.
Conclusions:
- Behçet's disease is a significant etiological factor for CVST, particularly in younger men.
- CVST in BD patients generally has a good functional outcome, even with initial neurological involvement.
Objective:
This study was performed to determine the rate of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) among cases of Behçet's disease (BD) included in a multicentre study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST).
Methods:
VENOST was a retrospective and prospective national multicentre observational study that included 1144 patients with CVST. The patients were classified according to aetiologic factors, time of CVST symptom onset, sinus involvement, treatment approach and prognosis.
Results:
BD was shown to be a causative factor of CVST in 108 (9.4%) of 1144 patients. The mean age of patients in the BD group was 35.27 years and 68.5% were men, whereas in the non-BD CVST group, the mean age was 40.57 years and 28.3% were men (P < 0.001). Among the aetiologic factors for patients aged 18-36 years, BD was predominant for men, and puerperium was predominant for women. The onset of symptoms in the BD group was consistent with the subacute form. The transverse sinuses were the most common sites of thrombosis, followed by the superior sagittal sinuses. The most common symptom was headache (96.2%), followed by visual field defects (38%).
Conclusions:
BD was found in 9.4% of patients in our VENOST series. Patients with BD were younger and showed a male predominance. The functional outcome of CVST in patients with BD was good; only 12% of patients presenting with cranial nerve involvement and altered consciousness at the beginning had a poor outcome (modified Rankin Score ⩾2).