[Cerebral venous thrombosis: study of fifteen cases and review of literature].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze a series of 15 patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) who had follow-ups at the neurology service of Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte Hospital from April, 2007 to December, 2008. These results were compared with data in literature.


METHODS
Cases were evaluated by retrospective study of the epidemiologic characteristics, signs and symptoms, risk factors and prognosis of 15 patients with cerebral venous thrombosis.


RESULTS
Diagnoses were reached through magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 14 cases and through an angiography in one. The main risk factors identified were use of birth control pills (40%) and history of family member with deep venous thrombosis. Thrombophilia was found in two patients (13%). The veins more affected were the transverse sinus (73%) followed by the upper sagital sinus (53%). Four patients had strokes and five had only headaches as isolated symptoms. Twelve patients were treated with heparin and oral anticoagulant.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with heparin in the acute phase followed by an oral anticoagulant was shown as safe and efficient to prevent worsening of the disease, recurrence and for quick improvement of neurological symptoms of all treated patients. CVT is one of the possible diagnoses of secondary headache even in patients with no signs and symptoms.
Christo
Paulo Pereira
PP
Santa Efigênia Belo Horizonte- MG, Brazil.
Carvalho
Gustavo Martins de
GM
Gomes Neto
Antonio Pereira
AP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005192:Family Health; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000925:Anticoagulants; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D006493:Heparin