Risk Factors for Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare thrombotic disorder involving the cerebral veins and dural sinuses. In contrast to more common sites of venous thromboembolism (VTE), such as the legs and lungs, CVT mainly affects young adults and children, and women are affected three times more often than men. Although presenting symptoms are variable, headache is usually the first symptom, often in combination with focal neurologic deficits and epileptic seizures. The primary therapy for CVT consists of heparin followed by oral anticoagulation for at least 3 to 6 months. The mortality in the acute phase is 5 to 10% and a substantial proportion of survivors suffer from long-term disabilities. A large number of risk factors have been linked to CVT, although the scientific evidence for an association varies considerably between risk factors. Some risk factors, such as hereditary thrombophilia, correspond with risk factors for more common sites of VTE, whereas others, such as head trauma, are specific to CVT. In most patients, at least one risk factor can be identified. In this review, we provide an overview of the risk factors for CVT.
Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Suzanne M
SM
Silvis
Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Saskia
S
Middeldorp
Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Susanna M
SM
Zuurbier
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Suzanne C
SC
Cannegieter
Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jonathan M
JM
Coutinho
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002550:Cerebral Veins; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin