Study of Radioclinical and Risk Factors of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Retrospective Analysis of Patients Presenting to a Tertiary Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.

BACKGROUND

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the formation of a blood clot in the dural venous sinuses or cerebral veins. CVT presents a diverse array of clinical symptoms, making its diagnosis challenging. Understanding regional variations and specific risk factors associated with CVT is crucial, especially in low-resource settings like Somalia, where epidemiological data is limited and healthcare resources are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the clinical and risk factors associated with CVT in patients presenting to Mogadishu Somali-Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Research and Training Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study involving 68 patients diagnosed with CVT between January 2019 and December 2023. Data included demographic information, clinical presentations, risk factors, and anatomical thrombosis locations. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were female (86.76%) and aged 20-40 years (86.76%). Significant risk factors included the postpartum period (77.94%) and pregnancy, with statistical analysis showing strong associations between CVT and the postpartum period (χ² = 62.96, p < 0.0001) and pregnancy (χ² = 5.21, p = 0.022). Postpartum CVT was linked to thrombosis location (p = 0.025). Headache was the predominant symptom (98.53%), followed by altered mental status (83.82%), focal motor deficits (80.88%), and seizures (70.59%). The superior sagittal sinus was the most commonly involved site (57.35%).

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes the postpartum period as a significant risk factor for CVT in Somalia and highlights the need for clinical vigilance and early intervention strategies. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings.