Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is the presence of a blood clot in the dural venous sinus, which collects blood from the cerebral veins and returns it to the heart.
The main risk factors are those that promote hypercoagulability, such as the use of certain medications, pregnancy and puerperium, neoplasms, infection and dehydration.
The most common symptom is headache, which may be accompanied by focal neurological deficits, seizures and altered mental status or coma.
Diagnosis is based on a detailed clinical history, complete physical examination, blood tests, and imaging studies.
Basic treatment is with anticoagulants and analgesics for pain relief. Thrombolysis and/or urgent surgery may be required if the condition does not respond to medical treatment.
- José M Ferro, Patrícia Canhão. Etiology, clinical features, and diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis. UpToDate. Nov 04, 2015.
- Saposnik G, Barinagarrementeria F, Brown RD Jr, et al. Diagnosis and management of cerebral venous thrombosis: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2011; 42:1158.
- Unpublished data, International study on cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis (ISCVT) and Cerebral venous thrombosis Portuguese collaborative study group (VENOPORT) registries.
- Coutinho JM, Zuurbier SM, Aramideh M, Stam J. The incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis: a cross-sectional study. Stroke 2012; 43:3375.
- Coutinho JM, Ferro JM, Canhão P, et al. Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis in women. Stroke 2009; 40:2356.
- Ferro JM, Canhão P, Bousser MG, et al. Cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis in elderly patients. Stroke 2005; 36:1927.
