Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: Gender Differences in Ten Years Experience

Abstract

Objective: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon subtype of stroke. CVST is much more common in women than men with a ratio of three to one. This women preponderance is attributed to gender-specific risk factors (GSRF). In many patients, symptoms develop over days or weeks. In some patients, clinical presentations are nonspesific. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the records of patients with CVST treated at Neurology department of Haseki Training and Research Hospital between 2001-2011, which diagnoses were confirmed with cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Thirty-four patients were included the study. Women/men ratio was 3.25/1. We analyzed the demographic features, comorbid conditions, clinical presentation, neuroradiological findings. Results: Thirty-four patients were included the study. Headache was present in all patients and it was present as isolated in 47.1% (n= 16) of the patients. In 52.9% (n= 18) of the patients onset of the symptoms were subacute, 29.4% (n= 10) chronic, 17.6 (n= 6) acute. Of all patients, 76.5% (n= 26) were women. Transverse sinus was the mostly affected sinus as either isolated or with the other CSVT in both groups (in 20 women and 8 men). The most common presentation symptom (43.78%) in women was headache whereas; it was intracranial hypertension (34.78%) in men. Half of our women patients with GRSF; 7 (26.92%) women were oral contraceptives user and 5 (15.38%) women were in pregnancy or puerperium period. Conclusion: We have found differences between women and men in the presentation and risk factors.