Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with cancer: analysis of the ACTION-CVT study

Abstract

Nearly one fifth of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) have cancer. When both of these conditions occur, especially in cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT), patient management is often challenging. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics and event courses in patients affected by CVT with and without cancer. Consecutive patients with CVT from the ACTION-CVT cohort study were included if cancer status was reported. Risk factors as well as the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients were compared. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to assess variables associated with cancer. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, logistic regression analysis, and propensity score matching were used to investigate any association between cancer-related CVT and study outcomes (primary outcome at 3-months: recurrent VTE or major hemorrhage; recurrent VTE; major hemorrhage; recanalization status; all-cause-death). Overall, 1,023 patients with CVT were included, of which 6.5% had cancer. Older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.28 per decade increase; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–1.52) and absence of headache (aOR 0.47; 95% CI 0.27–0.84) were independently associated with cancer. Patients with cancer had a higher risk of recurrent VTE or major hemorrhage (aOR 3.87; 95% CI 2.09–7.16), all-cause-death (aOR 7.56 95% CI 3.24–17.64), and major hemorrhage (aOR 3.70 95% CI 1.76–7.80). Recanalization rates, partial or complete, was not significantly different. CVT patients with cancer were more likely to be older, have no referred headache, and have worse outcomes compared to CVT patients without cancer.