HELLP Syndrome and Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Associated with Factor V Leiden Mutation during Pregnancy

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in pregnancy and puerperium

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is more common in women than in men, possibly due to gender-specific risk factors in young adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the clinical and radiological findings, other risk factors, and clinical course of CVST associated with pregnancy and puerperium differ from those of other CVST cases. We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with CVST in our hospital between September 2007 and December 2019. The risk factors, clinical and radiological characteristics, and follow-up data for female patients with CVST were compared between cases associated with pregnancy and puerperium with those of other cases. A total of 50 female patients with CVST were included in the study. Twenty-four (48%) cases occurred during pregnancy and puerperium. The mean age of the pregnant or puerperal patients was lower than that of the other patients (p = 0.007). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of clinical and neuroradiological findings or presence of any additional risk factors including hereditary thrombophilia. There was also no difference in terms of in-hospital mortality rates and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 6 months between the groups. The clinical presentation of CVST and the frequencies of the presence of other risk factors including genetic thrombophilia in pregnant and puerperal patients were similar to those of non-pregnant female patients. Screening for additional risk factors, especially genetic thrombophilia, should therefore not be neglected in CVST occurring during pregnancy and puerperium.

Seizure in Pregnancy Following Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

Introduction:

Seizure involves less than 1% of pregnancies; however it is associated with increased maternal and fetal complications. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare, but potentially life-threatening cause of seizure during pregnancy, presenting primarily as seizure in 12% - 31.9% of cases. Pregnancy and puerperium are known as the risk factors of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

Case Presentation:

Here is presented a case of seizure after delivery by cesarean section in an otherwise healthy woman. The final diagnosis was cerebral venous sinus thrombosis probably due to hypercoagulable state in pregnancy.

Conclusions:

If seizure occurs during the peripartum period, along with providing complete cardiovascular and respiratory support, advanced diagnostic measures are needed and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis should be considered as a possible diagnosis.