CLINICAL AND NEUROVISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THROMBOSIS OF THE CEREBRAL SINUS AND VENUS

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted in a group of patients with venous stroke to investigate the risk factors, clinical manifestations, and neuroimaging characteristics of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). The study covered 39 patients. Venous strokes due to thrombosis of cerebral sinuses and veins were more frequently observed in women (61.5%). There were no significant differences in the age of patients with venous stroke based on gender (p = 0.129), with a mean age of 40 years within the study cohort. In the investigated group, the prevalence of risk factors such as cardiovascular diseases was significantly lower compared to patients with arterial stroke. The most common risk factors for cerebral venous thrombosis included hematological disorders (congenital or acquired thrombophilias, iron deficiency anemia, hypovolemic states) (51.2%), the use of combined oral hormonal contraceptives (20.5%), pregnancy and childbirth (15.4%), and sinusitis (15.4%). The most frequent sites of thrombosis were the superior sagittal sinus, transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus, and internal jugular veins. Hemorrhagic transformation of the brain edema at the site of sinus or venous thrombosis occurred more frequently in women (76.2%) compared to men (12.8%) (p = 0.042, χ2 = 4.127; OR = 4.00; 95% CI: 1.018- 15.717). The clinical picture of cerebral venous thrombosis is variable and depends on the severity of generalized and focal symptoms. The most common symptom reported was cephalalgia, present in 90% of the cases; in 25% of the patients, it was the only registered symptom. This condition has a favorable outcome with timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment. The mortality rate in the studied group of the patients with venous stroke was 2.6%.