Cranial dural arteriovenous fistula: Predisposing factors to aggressive symptoms.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and angiographic data of cranial dural arteriovenous fistula in Thai patients and to determine the predisposing factors to aggressive symptoms. Methods: Retrospective review of 71 patients with cranial dural arteriovenous fistula who underwent cerebral angiography at Siriraj Hospital between July 2002 – February 2006. Their clinical manifestations were classified as benign or aggressive symptoms. The relationship between aggressive symptoms and the following factors were studied gender, location of the fistula, classification according to venous drainage pattern, presence of cerebral sinus thrombosis, and shunt multiplicity. Linear-by-linear association and chi-square test were used to determine statistical significance. Results: Sixteen (22.5%) of 71 patients with cranial dural arteriovenous fistula had aggressive presenting symptoms. Factors that significantly correlate with aggressive symptoms were location of the fistula, retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage, presence of cerebral sinus thrombosis, and multiplicity. Factor which was not significantly correlated with aggressive symptoms was gender. Conclusion: This study evaluated clinical data and angiographic features of cranial dural arteriovenous fistula in Thai patients. Predisposing factors to aggressive symptoms were location of the fistula, retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage, presence of cerebral sinus thrombosis, and multiplicity.