A study of the clinical features and
the outcome of cerebral venous sinus
thrombosis in a tertiary care centre
in South India
443-447
Correspondence
Halesha BR, Assistant Professor,
Department of General Medicine,
Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences,
Hassan-573 201, Karnataka, India.
Mobile No: 09620150630.
Email: haleshbr81@yahoo.co.in
Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon cause of stroke with extremely diverse clinical features, predisposing factors, brain imaging findings and outcomes. The prognosis of CVST is variable and its outcome may vary from recovery to permanent neurological deficits.
Aims: To study the clinical features, prognostic factors and the outcome in CVST.
Study Design: Prospective study.
Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with radiologically confirmed CVST were studied from November 2005 to October 2006. The demographical, clinical, radiological and outcome data were recorded and analyzed. The prognostic factors in patients who were enrolled in the study were prospectively investigated.A poor outcome after 12 weeks, which was defined as death or dependency (by the modified Rankin scale [mRS] ≥3), was used as the principal outcome measure.
Results: The most common presenting features were headache (90%), focal deficits (48%), seizures (44%), and coma (14%). Puerperium was the most common risk factor. After 12 weeks of follow up, nine patients (18%) had a poor outcome (mRS≥3or death). The multivariate predictors of a poor outcome were age >30 years, male sex, coma at presentation, cerebral haemorrhage and deep cerebral venous system thrombosis.
Conclusion: CVST can affect all age groups, particularly women of the child bearing age. The overall prognosis of CVST is fairly good with an independent survival of 82%.