Analysis of Clinical Features, Risk Factors and Laboratory Parameters in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Study of 70 Cases

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) has variableclinical presentations mimicking other neurological disorders.There is variation in risk factors for CVT in different areas.Study was done with the aim of analyzing the clinical features,risk factors and laboratory parameters on patients diagnosedwith CVT on Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV) andMRI.Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, data of70 consecutive patients attending a private neurology centerwith CVT confirmed on MRV and MRI from May 2016 toApril 2019 was analyzed. Laboratory parameters emphasizedwere hemoglobin content, serum homocysteine level and lipidprofile.Results: Out of 70 patients, 48 were men and 22 women inthe age range of 14 to 71 years. Most common presentingsymptom was progressive headache (63 cases,90%) aloneor in combination with other symptoms like vomiting (22cases, 31.42%), hemiparesis (17 cases, 24.28%), ataxia(17 cases, 24.28%) and seizures (15 cases, 21.42%).Hyperhomocysteinemia was seen in 15 cases (21.42%),anemia in total 30 cases (42.85%), and alcoholism in sevencases (10%). Twenty four patients (34.28%) had high densitylipoprotein (HDL) level of less than 40mg/dl, five patients(7.14%) had total cholesterol more than 200mg/dl and threepatients (4.28%) had triglycerides more than 200mg/dl. Onepatient (1.42%) had protein S deficiency.Conclusion: CVT is an uncommon but treatable cause ofstroke in young patients. Due to variety of clinical presentation,a high degree of clinical suspicion is neccessory for correctdiagnosis and early treatment.