Clinical profile and risk factors of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in Sudan: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a relatively uncommon cause of stroke that mainly affects young ladies, with a wide spectrum of symptoms severity, and prognosis. In this study, we aim to study the clinical profile and Risk Factors of CVST among Sudanese patients in Khartoum state hospitals.

METHODS

This was a multi-center cross-sectional hospital-based study that covered 37 participants in three major hospitals in Khartoum, with radiologically confirmed Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST).

RESULTS

About 37 patients were included in this study. The median age was 35 years; the range was 52 years, with a minimum age of 23 years and a maximum of 75 years. The commonest presenting feature was headache (n = 35; 94.6%), followed by blurring of vision (n = 25; 67.6%), while seizures is a presenting symptom in nearly half of the patients (n = 17; 45.9%), on examination papilledema was present in 83.8%. In this study 13.8% were pregnant, 31.0% were postpartum and OCPS users account for 27%. Regarding the involved sinus; Sagittal Venous Sinus and the transverse sinus were the most affected sinuses. Regarding treatment options: "low molecular weight heparin followed with warfarin" was found in 81.1%, followed by heparin in only 10.8%, while the new agents NOACs comprised only 8.1%.

CONCLUSION

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis is mainly a disease of child-bearing women, although significant proportions of men were affected. Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis presents in a wide variety of signs and symptoms.