title: Heparin in the treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis.
abstract: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring rapid diagnosis and urgent treatment. Heparin anticoagulation is the time-honoured treatment, and is advocated in all cases of CVT, irrespective of etiology or presence of haemorrhage. The supportive evidence is largely observational; data from randomized placebo-controlled trials shows a nonsignificant trend favouring heparin. Current practice is to begin heparin (unfractionated or low-molecular weight) immediately on confirmation of the diagnosis. Newer antithrombotic agents such as ximelagatran may offer advantages over heparin and need to be investigated in the treatment of CVT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Neurology), Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafqat
authors.forename: Ayeesha K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wasay
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin