Cerebral venous thrombosis in pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a very rare condition. The incidence of CVST in general is 3–4 per million, however, in pregnancy the incidence ranges from 1/2500 to 1/10,000. Headache is the most common and first symptom of presentation of CVST. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis can be associated with other neurological manifestations such as papilledema, focal neurological signs, diplopia, cranial nerve palsy, and psychosis. This is a case of a 28-year-old woman in her second pregnancy who presented at 38+2 weeks gestational age with migraine-like headache associated with nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision. She was diagnosed with CVST by magnetic resonance venography (MRV) which demonstrated thrombotic venous sinus occlusion. The condition was treated with therapeutic dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Although CVST is a rare condition, it should be excluded in women who present with headache in pregnancy particularly when presenting with associated neurological symptoms and signs.