Retrospective analysis of pediatric patient with cerebral venous thrombosis

Objective: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is brain dysfunction due to thrombotic occlusion of cerebral vein and / or dural venous sinuses and is classified as ischemic stroke. Although it is a rare disease in childhood, it is important because of the high risk of mortality and neurological deficits. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the etiology, clinical findings, risk factors, demographic features, imaging findings, treatment and prognosis of patients followed up with a diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Material and Methods: The files of patients who were followed up with a diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the Pediatric Hematology Department and Pediatric Neurology Department of Çukurova University Balcalı Hospital between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-six patients were included in the study and their demographic characteristics, risk factors, presentation symptoms, neuroimaging characteristics, antithrombotic and supportive treatments, and prognosis data were collected. Results: 61,1 % of the patients included in the study were male and 38,9 % were female. The median age at the diagnosis was 104,5 months (minimum 0,5 months, maximum 214 months). Prothrombotic causes were 96,8 %, infections 47,2 %, chronic systemic diseases 47,2 % in etiology. Most of the patients (75 %) had more than one risk factor. 83,3 % of the patients presented with systemic neurological symptoms, 66,6 % with focal neurological symptoms and 33,4 % with seizures. The most common complaint was headache (52,8 %), and the most commonly involved venous structure was transverse sinus (88,9 %). At follow up 33,3 % of the patients had neurological deficit, 38,8 % had epilepsy and 27,8 % died. Conclusions: Early diagnosis and follow-up of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with the high rate of morbidity and mortality is important. Clarification of the etiology after the diagnosis will be decisive in guiding the treatment and predicting the course of the disease and recurrences. Keywords: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, risk factors, prognosis