Cerebral Venous Thrombosis In Adults Research Articles

Prediction of Long-Term Poor Clinical Outcomes in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Using Neural Networks Model: The BEAST Study.

Risk prediction models are commonly performed with logistic regression analysis but are limited by skewed datasets. We utilised neural networks (NNs) model to identify independent predictors of poor outcomes in cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) due to the limitations of logistic regression (LR) analysis with complex datasets. We evaluated 1309 adult CVT patients from the prospective BEAST (Biorepository to Establish the Aetiology of Sinovenous Thrombosis) study. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve confirmed the goodness-of-fit of prediction models. The normalised importance (NI) of the NNs determines the significance of independent predictors. The stepwise logistic regression model found thrombolysis (OR 32.1; 95% CI 3.6-287.0; P=0.002), craniotomy (OR 6.9; 95% CI 1.3-36.8; P=0.02), and cerebral haemorrhage (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.3-15.4; P=0.01) as predictors of poor clinical outcome with the AUROC of 0.71. Conversely, the NNs model identified major independent predictors of long-term poor clinical outcomes as cerebral haemorrhage (NI 100%) and thrombolysis (NI 98%), as well as trivial predictors of age (NI 2.8%) and altered mental status (NI 3.5%). The accuracy of the NNs model was 95.1% and 94.1% for self-learned randomly selected training and testing samples with an AUROC of 0.82. Positive and negative predictive values for poor outcomes were 13.2% and 97.1% for the LR model, compared with the NNs model of 18.8% and 98.7%, respectively. Cerebral haemorrhage and thrombolysis was a strong independent predictor, whereas age merely impacts the long-term poor clinical outcome in adult CVT. Integrating unorthodox neural networks risk prediction model can improve decision-making as it outperforms conventional logistic regression with complex datasets.

Coma in adult cerebral venous thrombosis: The BEAST study.

Coma is an independent predictor of poor clinical outcomes in cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). We aimed to describe the association of age, sex, and radiological characteristics of adult coma patients with CVT. We used data from the international, multicentre prospective observational BEAST (Biorepository to Establish the Aetiology of Sinovenous Thrombosis) study. Only positively associated variables with coma with <10% missing data in univariate analysis were considered for the multivariate logistic regression model. Of the 596 adult patients with CVT (75.7% women), 53 (8.9%) patients suffered coma. Despite being a female-predominant disease, the prevalence of coma was higher among men than women (13.1% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.04). Transverse sinus thrombosis was least likely to be associated with coma (23.9% vs. 73.3%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis was higher among men than women in the coma sample (73.6% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.01). Men were significantly older than women, with a median (interquartile range) age of 51 (38.5-60) versus 40 (33-47) years in the coma (p = 0.04) and 44.5 (34-58) versus 37 (29-48) years in the non-coma sample (p < 0.001), respectively. Furthermore, an age- and superior sagittal sinus-adjusted multivariate logistic regression model found male sex (odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-3.4, p = 0.04) to be an independent predictor of coma in CVT, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.61 (95% CI = 0.52-0.68, p = 0.01). Although CVT is a female-predominant disease, men were older and nearly twice as likely to suffer from coma than women.

Radiographic Signs of Advanced Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Negatively Modulate the Effectiveness of Endovascular Treatments

Introduction: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is a therapeutic option for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT); however, its benefit over conservative medical management has not been proven. Whether the current patient selection practices are appropriate for EVT is unclear. Methods: This was a nationwide study of the 2016–2020 National Inpatient Sample database. Adult CVT patients and EVT treatments were identified. Patient demographics, medical comorbidities, CVT risk factors, and CVT manifestations were identified. Presence of radiographic signs of advanced and severe CVT (venous infarction, cerebral edema, and intracranial hemorrhage) was recorded. Primary and secondary outcomes were good discharge outcomes and in-hospital mortality, respectively. Results: A total of 17,130 CVT patients were identified, and 56.7% had good discharge outcomes, while 4.6% died during hospitalization. 945 (5.5%) received EVT, and EVT patients were more likely to have cerebral infarction (35.4 vs. 21.8%, p p p p = 0.059) and resulted in zero deaths. However, with the increasing burden of radiographic signs of advanced CVT measured by the cumulative presence of infarction, edema, and hemorrhage, EVT was associated with decreasing odds of good outcomes and increasing odds of in-hospital mortality compared to medical management (interaction p = 0.046 and 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: EVT may lead to higher rates of favorable hospitalization outcomes in patients who have not yet developed overt parenchymal manifestations of backpressure changes; presence of infarction, edema, and hemorrhage may diminish the short-term effectiveness of EVT.

Cerebral venous thrombosis in adults: a case series of 35 patients from a tertiary hospital

ObjectiveTo describe the baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, imaging tests and outcomes, and identify potential prognostic factors in a cohort of patients diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Patients and methodsThis retrospective, single-center, observational study included adult patients diagnosed with CVT from January 2016 to December 2020. The variables were reviewed using electronic medical records. ResultsA total of 35 patients were included, with a median age at diagnosis of 50.3 (+/- 17.8) years, and the majority being women (74.4%). Nearly 95% of the patients presented at least one risk factor for the development of CVT. Heparins were used for the acute phase in 97.1% of cases, with 75% of those being low molecular weight heparins.During the first two weeks, a compound event (death, intensive care unit admission, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale at discharge >3, CVT recurrence, major bleeding, or the presence of complications) occurred in 28.6% of patients (10 patients).Over the mean follow-up period of 3.3 years, 14.3% of the patients died (with only one death attributed to CVT), one patient experienced major bleeding, and no patients had a recurrence of CVT. ConclusionsIn our cohort, CVT predominantly affected young women with at least one risk factor for its development. The presence of edema on CT and corticosteroid treatment were associated with a poor short-term prognosis. However, we observed a favorable long-term prognosis in terms of mortality, recurrence, and bleeding.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis With Hereditary Antithrombin Iii Deficiency After COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report

Hereditary antithrombin III deficiency is a prothrombotic disorder with an associated 50-90% risk of venous thrombosis. It rarely causes cerebral venous thrombosis in adults. Variable clinical presentations make the diagnosis a challenge. Careful clinical history, extensive clinical examinations, comprehensive investigations, and prompt management are necessary to save lives. COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia may be a risk factor for cerebral venous thrombosis in these cases. Here, we are reporting an adult female with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with hereditary antithrombin III deficiency. J Dhaka Med Coll. 2021; 30(2) : 227-231

Clinical Profile and Short-Term Outcome of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in a Nepalese Population: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke. The increased awareness among the physicians and the suspiciousness of the myriad of its clinical presentation with increased availability of investigation modules and therapeutic options has led to a decrement of mortality and morbidity. The study intends to assess the clinical etiological profile of patients of CVT and also to assess short-term outcomes and if any factors are associated with it. Methods: It was a hospital-based retrospective, observational cross-sectional study at a tertiary care center in Kathmandu among adult CVT patients from August 2019 to August 2021. Clinical, etiological, and radiological data, the outcome at discharge, and any factors influencing this were assessed where possible. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 software. Analysis of the descriptive data was performed and independent factors influencing short-term outcome (admission date &lt; 7 days) were analyzed. Results: There were a total of 15 cases included in the study. The study showed female predominance (66.7%. The mean age of the patients was 48.87 years. Four (26.7%) patients had hypertension. The history of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use was among five (33.33%) females. A significant association was present with direct signs in CT scan (p=0.02), and low erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), p= (0.02). Conclusions: OCP and hypertension are increasingly recognized as independent risk factors for CVT. The presence of direct signs in the CT head and the presence of high ESR have independent predictive value in assessing short-term outcomes.

English

Thrombosis of cerebral venous channel is a known complication of hypercoagulable states. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a known hypercoagulable state. Obesity is a modern-day global epidemic. Disorders such as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and venous thromboembolism are on the rising trend and its increased morbidity and mortality is being associated with obesity. To date, however, the knowledge about the association between obesity and adult cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is sparse. We report a 44-year-old young morbidly obese metabolically unhealthy female who presented with headache, nausea, vomiting and giddiness. On evaluation, magnetic resonance venogram showed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. On investigations, she had concomitant hyperhomocysteinaemia and metabolic syndrome. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis causing stroke in young adults is uncommon with various conditions precipitating it.1,2,3 Severe headache (70 - 90 %), focal lateralized signs (25 % - 75 %), seizures (30 – 40 %) as well as behavioural symptoms such as delirium, amnesia, and disturbances in consciousness are the various associated clinical symptoms. The known inherited hypercoagulable risk factors that cause CVST are gain of function mutations in the genes encoding factor V (factor V Leiden) and prothrombin, Protein C, S and antithrombin III deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinaemia, is a known risk factor for causing venous thrombosis of the lower limbs. However, till date there is no data available showing its role in causing cerebral venous thrombosis. The interaction between genetic and acquired determinants result in high plasma levels of total homocysteine (tHcy).4,5,6 Vitamins such as folic acid, pyridoxine, and cobalamin are involved in the metabolic pathways of homocysteine and its deficiencies represent the acquired determinants. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) comprises of deep vein thrombosis of the leg and pulmonary embolism and obesity is now being recognised as one of the risk factors causing it. The risk of VTE is approximately increased to 2-fold in an individual with a body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 30 or more compared with a normal BMI (&lt; 25), and higher BMIs increase more risk with approximately 3 times higher risk in individuals with a BMI greater than 40.7, 8,9 Again obesity as a risk factor for CVST is less known.

Inflammatory Biomarkers Correlate with Time Evolution in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis

ObjectivesWe aimed to analyse the relationship between specific inflammatory biomarkers’ levels and the temporal pattern of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) symptoms. Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective study of adult CVT patients admitted between Jan 01 2006 and Dec 31 2019. We excluded patients with infection at admission, autoimmune, inflammatory or haematological disorders.We evaluated serum inflammatory biomarkers at admission: C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), absolute neutrophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, platelet count, monocyte count, neutrophile-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), bilirubin and monocyte-to-HDL ratio (M-HDLR). These were evaluated according to the time from symptom onset (acute, subacute or chronic). ResultsWe included 78 patients with CVT (mean age 41 ± 13 years). Neutrophil count (p = 0.017), monocyte (p = 0.024), CRP (p = 0.004), NLR (p<0.001) and LMR (p = 0.004) showed significant variation with CVT duration. Acute onset CVT exhibited higher absolute neutrophil count and NLR but lower LMR. The subacute group had higher monocyte values, and the chronic phase patients displayed higher LMR, but lower CRP. ESR, PLR and M-HDLR showed a tendency to decrease in the chronic phase. We did not observe any statistical difference between the duration of symptoms and levels of bilirubin. ConclusionsCVT patients present a differential inflammatory pattern along the time course of the disease: higher NLR and lower LMR in acute phase, and higher LMR and lower CRP level during the chronic phase. These differences may help to ascertain the onset of poorly defined symptoms and provide input regarding anticoagulation management.

Bacterial meningitis complicated by cerebral venous thrombosis.

IntroductionCommunity-acquired bacterial meningitis may be complicated by cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), but this has not systematically been studied.MethodsWe evaluated clinical characteristics and outcome of CVT in adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis in a prospective nationwide cohort study of bacterial meningitis (2006–2018) in the Netherlands.ResultsCVT occurred in 26 of 2220 episodes with bacterial meningitis (1%). The diagnosis of CVT was made on the day of presentation in 15 patients (58%) and during hospital stay in 11 patients after a median of 6 days (IQR 2–7). Sinusitis or otitis was present in 16 of 24 patients (67%). Patients with CVT presented more often in a coma than those without CVT (53 vs. 18%; P = 0.001) and the clinical course was more often complicated by focal neurologic deficits (58 vs. 22%; P < 0.001). Twelve patients of 26 (46%) had parenchymal lesions on neuroimaging, of whom two (8%) were specific for CVT. The transverse sinus was most frequently thrombosed (18 of 26; 69%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common causative pathogen, occurring in 17 of 26 patients (65%). Eleven patients (44%) received anticoagulant therapy with heparin and none of them developed intracerebral hemorrhage during admission. Unfavorable outcome, as defined as a score on the Glasgow Outcome Scale <5, occurred in 14 of 26 patients (54%) and 4 patients (15%) died.Discussion and conclusionCVT is a rare complication of bacterial meningitis and mainly occurs in patients with coma, ear, nose and throat infections, and focal neurologic deficits.

Cerebral venous thrombosis: a practical guide.

All neurologists need to be able to recognise and treat cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). It is difficult to diagnose, partly due to its relative rarity, its multiple and various clinical manifestations (different from 'conventional' stroke, and often mimicking other acute neurological conditions), and because it is often challenging to obtain and interpret optimal and timely brain imaging. Although CVT can result in death or permanent disability, it generally has a favourable prognosis if diagnosed and treated early. Neurologists involved in stroke care therefore also need to be aware of the treatments for CVT (with varying degrees of supporting evidence): the mainstay is prompt anticoagulation but patients who deteriorate despite treatment can be considered for endovascular procedures (endovascular thrombolysis or thrombectomy) or neurosurgery (decompressive craniotomy). This review summarises current knowledge on the risk factors, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of CVT in adults, and highlights some areas for future research.

An Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Adults: A Narrative Review

An Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Adults: A Narrative Review

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis, Seasonal Trends, and Climatic Influence: A Region-SpecificStudy.

Background and Purpose:Studies looking at seasonal variation on cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) are few with conflicting conclusions. In this region-specific study, we looked for climatic influence and seasonal trends on the incidence of CVT.Methods:Imaging proven adult CVT cases treated over a period of 18 years from a specific geographical location with similar seasons and climatic conditions were studied. Metrological parameters prepared using 30 years of data was used. Quantum geographical information system (QGIS software) and SPSS v 22 were used for patient plotting and analysis.Results:Total of 970 cases were studied. The incidence was significantly higher in summer 411 (42.3%) compared with autumn 317 (32.7%) and winter 242 (25.05); P = 0.038. This trend was consistent across all the 18 years in time series analysis. Mean age was 33.5 years (range 18–88 years). A significant majority 673 (69.4%) were below 40 years of age; P = 0.012. Females constituted 394 (40.6%) of cases. Postpartum CVT cases constituted 237 (30%). Interaction analysis showed younger age (<40 years) were more vulnerable for CVT in summer; P = 0.009. There was no seasonal influence on postpartum CVT. Apart for a weak positive correlation between rain fall (r = 0.18, P < 0.01); humidity and cloud cover was not influencing the incidence.Conclusions:Higher ambient temperatures were consistently associated with higher incidence of CVT. This is the largest region-specific study on CVT in the world. These results may be applicable to other regions with similar climatic conditions.

Cerebral venous thrombosis in adults.

Thromboses of cerebral veins and/or sinuses (CVT) encompass a clinically rather heterogenous, relatively rare entity, which is nonetheless an important cause of stroke in the young. While until the mid of the last century the prognosis of CVT was thought to be poor or even fatal in the majority of cases, the advance and wider use of modern imaging technology since the early 1980s, together with the results of registries and population-based studies, revealed that CVT is more frequent and less life-threatening than previously assumed. However, because headache is frequently the only symptom, many oligosymptomatic cases might be overlooked. Both, CT- and MR-venography are suitable methods to confirm or rule out CVT, while the sensitivity of laboratory tests (D-dimer) alone is too low to rely on. Despite low evidence anticoagulation remains the treatment of choice during the acute phase and for secondary prevention.

Non-genetic and genetic risk factors for adult cerebral venous thrombosis

IntroductionA wide variety of non-genetic and genetic factors have been shown to associate with increased risk for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). However, there is a paucity of risk factor data and conclusions about their impact are often conflicting. Herein, we quantified the associations of non-genetic and genetic risk factors for CVT in adults. Materials and methodsElectronic databases were searched up to January 2017. Meta-analyses were performed (RevMan v5.3) to determine pooled odds ratios (ORs and 95% CIs) for risk factors, interstudy heterogeneity and publication bias. ResultsTwenty non-genetic (n = 2314) and 33 genetic (n = 2117) studies up to January 2017 met the selection criteria. For non-genetic factors, CVT risk increased in the presence of glucocorticosteroid therapy by 18.3-fold (3.3–102.6), alcohol consumption 2.7-fold (1.8–3.9), infection 7.5-fold (2.6–21.6), surgery 9.6-fold (1.1–83.5), hypercholesterolaemia 2.4-fold (1.3–4.4), hyperhomocysteinaemia 3.1-fold (2.1–4.6), antiphospholipid antibodies 7.0-fold (2.1–23.6), autoimmune diseases 5.6-fold (2.3–13.6), anaemia 4.0-fold (2.1–7.9), malignancy 3.2-fold (1.4–7.1) and pregnancy/puerperium 11.4-fold (5.7–24.3). Smoking, hypertension and diabetes did not associate with CVT risk. For genetic factors, CVT risk increased in the presence of factor V Leiden (G1691A) by 2.5-fold (1.9–3.3), protein C deficiency 10.7-fold (3.1–37.7), protein S deficiency 5.7-fold (1.4–22.4), antithrombin deficiency 3.8-fold (1.0–13.8), prothrombin (G20210A) 5.5-fold (4.0–7.27) and TAFI gene variant (C1040T) 1.6-fold (1.0–2.4). Prothrombin G20210A and factor V Leiden polymorphisms tended to have higher ORs for CVT than for ischaemic stroke. ConclusionsWe provide quantitative data supporting a strong basis for genetic and non-genetic risk factors in CVT. Its genetic liability seems higher when compared with sporadic ischaemic stroke.

Current endovascular strategies for cerebral venous thrombosis: report of the SNIS Standards and Guidelines Committee

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare condition accounting for <1% of all strokes, with highly variable clinical presentations ranging from a headache to coma.1–4 Although MRI and MR venography...

Recognizing cerebral venous thrombosis in adults

Recognizing cerebral venous thrombosis in adults

Use of Adjunctive Steroids and Incidence of Delayed Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Adults with Bacterial Meningitis

BackgroundBacterial meningitis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Adjunctive steroids decrease mortality in adults with meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniaebut its use has been recently linked to the development of delayed cerebral thrombosis (DCT). The purpose of our study was to determine the utilization of adjunctive steroids and its incidence.MethodsA retrospective multicenter study involving 10 Houston area hospitals from 2008 to 2016. Data was gathered from 120 adults with culture proven community-acquired bacterial meningitis. An adverse clinical outcome was defined as a Glasgow outcome score of 1–4.ResultsThere was a total of 120 patients enrolled; of which, 55% were male. Adjunctive intravenous steroids were administered in 82 (68%) patients with bacterial meningitis. The steroid median duration was 3.8 days. The average age of patients was 55.3 years (range 20–92). There was no difference in Charlson comorbidity score, immunosuppression, presence of sinusitis or otitis, fever, meningeal signs or symptoms, abnormal neurological findings, Gram stain or severity of illness, based on Aronin score (P > 0.05), between patients who received steroids and those that did not. Older patients, age >65, were less likely to receive adjunctive steroids (P = 0.028). The most common organism isolated was Streptococcus pneumoniae, which occurred in 46 (38%) patients. An adverse clinical outcome was seen in 46 (38%) patients with no difference between groups (P = 0.819). Delayed cerebral thrombosis was seen in a total of 9 (7.5%) patients with bacterial meningitis. Of these, 1 patient (2.6%) did not receive steroids and the remaining 8 (10.9%) patients received steroids (P = 0.158). Five cases of meningitis that were complicated by DCT were caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1 by Listeria monocytogenes, and 2 with Staphylococcus aureus.ConclusionAdjunctive steroids are being used in the majority of adults with bacterial meningitis but it is possibly associated with DCT, a devastating complicationDisclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Cerebral venous thrombosis.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an important cause of stroke in young adults. Data from large international registries published in the past two decades have greatly improved our knowledge about the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and prognosis of CVT. The presentation of symptoms is highly variable in this disease, and can range from a patient seen at the clinic with a 1-month history of headache, to a comatose patient admitted to the emergency room. Consequently, the diagnosis of CVT is often delayed or overlooked. A variety of therapies for CVT are available, and each should be used in the appropriate setting, preferably guided by data from randomized trials and well-designed cohort studies. Although deaths from CVT have decreased in the past few decades, mortality remains ∼5-10%. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive and contemporary overview of CVT in adults, with emphasis on advancements made in the past decade on the epidemiology and treatment of this multifaceted condition.

Risk of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Obese Women

Obesity is a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis of the leg and pulmonary embolism. To date, however, whether obesity is associated with adult cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) has not been assessed. To assess whether obesity is a risk factor for CVT. A case-control study was performed in consecutive adult patients with CVT admitted from July 1, 2006 (Amsterdam), and October 1, 2009 (Berne), through December 31, 2014, to the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, or Inselspital University Hospital in Berne, Switzerland. The control group was composed of individuals from the control population of the Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment of Risk Factors for Venous Thrombosis study, which was a large Dutch case-control study performed from March 1, 1999, to September 31, 2004, and in which risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were assessed. Data analysis was performed from January 2 to July 12, 2015. Obesity was determined by body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 30 or greater was considered to indicate obesity, and a BMI of 25 to 29.99 was considered to indicate overweight. A multiple imputation procedure was used for missing data. We adjusted for sex, age, history of cancer, ethnicity, smoking status, and oral contraceptive use. Individuals with normal weight (BMI <25) were the reference category. The study included 186 cases and 6134 controls. Cases were younger (median age, 40 vs 48 years), more often female (133 [71.5%] vs 3220 [52.5%]), more often used oral contraceptives (97 [72.9%] vs 758 [23.5%] of women), and more frequently had a history of cancer (17 [9.1%] vs 235 [3.8%]) compared with controls. Obesity (BMI ≥30) was associated with an increased risk of CVT (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.63; 95% CI, 1.53-4.54). Stratification by sex revealed a strong association between CVT and obesity in women (adjusted OR, 3.50; 95% CI, 2.00-6.14) but not in men (adjusted OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.25-5.30). Further stratification revealed that, in women who used oral contraceptives, overweight and obesity were associated with an increased risk of CVT in a dose-dependent manner (BMI 25.0-29.9: adjusted OR, 11.87; 95% CI, 5.94-23.74; BMI ≥30: adjusted OR, 29.26; 95% CI, 13.47-63.60). No association was found in women who did not use oral contraceptives. Obesity is a strong risk factor for CVT in women who use oral contraceptives.

Long-term outcome after cerebral venous thrombosis: analysis of functional and vocational outcome, residual symptoms, and adverse events in 161 patients.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) affects mainly working-aged individuals. Functional recovery after CVT is generally considered good with about 3/4 of patients achieving short-term independence. However, vascular events, long-term functional outcome, and employment after CVT remain poorly investigated. We identified consecutive adult CVT patients treated at the Helsinki University Hospital (1987-2013) and invited them to a follow-up visit. Each clinical examination was combined with interview. We also recorded recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and hemorrhagic events during follow-up and antithrombotic medication use. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) served to assess functional outcome. Logistic regression served to identify independent factors associated with unemployment and functional recovery. Of the 195 patients identified, 21 died, 9 declined to participate, and 4 were excluded from the study. Thus, 161 patients (106 women) underwent an examination after a median of 39 months (interquartile range 14-95). VTE (one of which was CVT) occurred in 9 (6%) patients, and severe hemorrhagic events in 10 (6%). Functional outcome was good, with 84% scoring 0-1 on the mRS; 42% reported residual symptoms. Altogether, 91 (57%) patients were employed. After adjusting for age and sex, a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score>2 at admission and low education level, associated with both unfavorable functional outcome and unemployment. Long-term functional outcome after CVT may appear good if measured with mRS, but patients often have residual symptoms and are frequently unable to return to their previous work.