Endovascular thrombectomy and thrombolysis for severe cerebral sinus thrombosis: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
Most patients with cerebral sinus thrombosis (CST) recover after treatment with heparin, but a subgroup has a poor prognosis. Those patients may benefit from endovascular thrombolysis.


METHODS
Prospective case series. Patients with sinus thrombosis were selected for thrombolysis if they had an altered mental status, coma, straight sinus thrombosis, or large space-occupying lesions. Urokinase was infused into the sinuses (bolus 120 to 600 x 10(3) U; then 100 x 10(3) U/h) via a jugular catheter, in 15 cases combined with mechanical thrombus disruption or removal.


RESULTS
We treated 20 patients (16 women), mean age 32 years. Twelve patients were comatose and 14 had hemorrhagic infarcts before thrombolysis. Twelve patients recovered (Rankin score 0 to 2), 2 survived with handicaps, and 6 died. Factors associated with a fatal outcome were leukemia (3/6 versus 0/14, P=0.02) and large hemorrhagic infarcts (4/6 versus 2/14, P=0.04). Seizures were less frequent in the fatal cases (P=0.05). Patients who died had a larger mean lesion surface than survivors (30.5 versus 13.6 cm(2); P=0.03), larger midline shift (5.2 versus 1.7 mm; P=0.02), and a more rapid course (2.7 versus 8.2 days; P=0.01). Five patients who died had large hemispheric infarcts and edema before thrombolysis, causing herniation. Five patients had increased cerebral hemorrhage (3 minor, 2 major) after thrombolysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Thrombolysis can be effective for severe sinus thrombosis, but patients may deteriorate because of increased cerebral hemorrhage. Patients with large infarcts and impending herniation did not benefit.
Stam
Jan
J
Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J.Stam@amc.uva.nl
Majoie
Charles B L M
CB
van Delden
Otto M
OM
van Lienden
Krijn P
KP
Reekers
Jim A
JA
D000328:Adult; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator