Clinical Profile of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT) occurs due to occlusion of the veins and sinuses which drain the brain parenchyma. It is an uncommon form of stroke, predominantly found in young patients1 . Despite advances in the recognition of CVT in recent years, diagnosis and management can be difficult because of the diversity of underlying risk factors, presenting features and the absence of a uniform treatment approach. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical presentation, various aetiologies and prognostic indicators of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

This hospital-based descriptive study was carried out on 30 eligible patients from December 2013 to July 2015 after approval of Institutional Ethics Committee. Detailed history, clinical findings and required relevant investigations were recorded and analysed.

CVT was commonly observed in younger persons, commonly between 21-30 years. Female: Male ratio was 2.33. Altered sensorium at presentation was a poor prognostic indicator. The most common etiology was pregnancy and puerperium, followed by hyperhomocysteinemia. Superior sagittal sinus was found to be the most common site of thrombosis in this study, in 17 (56.7%) of the patients. 17 patients (56.67%) recovered completely without any neurodeficit. 24 ( 80%) and 22 (66%) subjects had cerebral infarction secondary to CVT. 5 (16.67%) patients succumbed to thrombosis or complications, most commonly due to intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral edema.

CVT is a disease with multifactorial, gender-related specific causes and has a wide and varied clinical spectrum.