Oral contraceptives caused venous sinus thrombosis complicated with cerebral artery infarction and secondary epileptic seizures: A case report and literature review

Relationship between cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and intracranial arteritis during pregnancy and post partum

Our study was conducted to explore the relationship between cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and intracranial arteritis during the time of pregnancy as well as puerperium. The current retrospective case study involved a total of 153 patients with pregnancy-related CVST. CVST was diagnosed mainly based on clinical manifestations and imaging results. Detailed information on demographics, risk factors (excluding intracranial arteritis), and pregnancy outcomes was systematically recorded. The average age of patients diagnosed with CVST was 28.67±3.54 years old. Among these patients, there were 62 cases of puerperal CVST and 91 cases of pregnancy-related CVST. The clinical manifestations of patients with CVST included headache in 55 cases (35.95%), symptomatic seizures in 26 cases (16.99%), symptomatic limb weakness in 22 cases (14.38%), symptomatic nausea/vomiting in 18 cases (11.76%), symptomatic disturbance of consciousness in 15 cases (9.80%), symptomatic blurred vision in 10 cases (6.54%), and symptomatic fever in 7 cases (4.58%). A proportion of patients reported higher abnormal cerebrospinal fluid pressure (98.28%), white cell count (79.31%), total cholesterol (71.55%) and low-density lipoprotein (62.93%) (p<0.01). The proportion of intracranial arteritis lesions and CVST lesions was high, including 51 cases (43.97%) on the left side and 31 cases (26.72%) on the right side. Bilateral CVST lesions occurred in 13 cases (11.20%) of unilateral intracranial arteritis lesions, and bilateral intracranial arteritis lesions occurred in 16 cases (13.79%) of unilateral CVST lesions. In summary, CVST indicates a potential positive link to intracranial arteritis at the time of pregnancy and puerperium.

Extracellular RNA in Central Nervous System Pathologies

The discovery of extracellular RNA (exRNA) has shifted our understanding of the role of RNA in complex cellular functions such as cell-to-cell communication and a variety of pathologies. ExRNAs constitute a heterogenous group of RNAs ranging from small (such as microRNAs) and long non-coding to coding RNAs or ribosomal RNAs. ExRNAs can be liberated from cells in a free form or bound to proteins as well as in association with microvesicles (MVs), exosomes, or apoptotic bodies. Their composition and quantity depend heavily on the cellular or non-cellular component, the origin, and the RNA species being investigated; ribosomal RNA provides the majority of exRNA and miRNAs are predominantly associated with exosomes or MVs. Several studies showed that ribosomal exRNA (rexRNA) constitutes a proinflammatory and prothrombotic alarmin. It is released by various cell types upon inflammatory stimulation and by damaged cells undergoing necrosis or apoptosis and contributes to innate immunity responses. This exRNA has the potential to directly promote the release of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin-6 from immune cells, thereby leading to a proinflammatory environment and promoting cardiovascular pathologies. The potential role of exRNA in different pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS) has become of increasing interest in recent years. Although various exRNA species including both ribosomal exRNA as well as miRNAs have been associated with CNS pathologies, their precise roles remain to be further elucidated. In this review, the different entities of exRNA and their postulated roles in CNS pathologies including tumors, vascular pathologies and neuroinflammatory diseases will be discussed. Furthermore, the potential role of exRNAs as diagnostic markers for specific CNS diseases will be outlined, as well as possible treatment strategies addressing exRNA inhibition or interference.

Acute arterial occlusion due to left ventricular thrombus of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a young adult: a case report

Background

Thromboembolism is a rare complication of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Importantly, an acute arterial occlusion needs rapid diagnosis and urgent treatment to help save the patient’s life. Here, we report a case of arterial occlusion due to ventricular thrombus of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Case presentation

A woman in her 30s, without previous medical history, felt sudden strong pain on her right leg and was diagnosed with right femoral arterial occlusion. An emergency operation was subsequently performed to take out thrombus. The patient’s oxygenation deteriorated to 93% of hemoglobin saturation just after extubation and exacerbated in the intensive care unit. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy-like left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and left ventricular thrombus. Heparin treatment was immediately started. After 10 days, the thrombus disappeared and the left ventricular wall motion improved and she was discharged from the hospital.

Conclusions

The patient’s acute arterial occlusion in this case report was mainly caused by thrombus of cardiac origin. We suggest to routinely check echocardiography reports before surgery and perform anesthetic management carefully to better control the patient’s blood pressure and heart rhythm.