Complicated cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with intracranial hemorrhage and mastoiditis

Acute Seizures-Work-Up and Management in Children

Seizures are common in the pediatric population; however, most children do not go on to develop epilepsy later in life. Selecting appropriate diagnostic modalities to determine an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment as well as with counseling families regarding the etiology and prognosis of seizures, is essential. This article will review updated definitions of seizures, including provoked versus unprovoked, as well as the International League Against Epilepsy operational definition of epilepsy. A variety of specific acute symptomatic seizures requiring special consideration are discussed, along with neonatal seizures and seizure mimics, which are common in pediatric populations.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Adults with Prothrombotic Conditions: A Systematic Review and a Case from Our Institution

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare condition characterized by elevated intracranial pressure due to impaired cerebral venous drainage, potentially leading to life-threatening consequences. We searched the PubMed electronic database for ‘cerebral venous sinus thrombosis’ and ‘prothrombotic’ cases reported in adults (19+ years) and conducted a systematic review for the published literature in the English language pooled with a case from our institution. Data were analyzed regarding patient demographics, risk factors, clinical features, treatment modalities, and outcomes when available.

Thirty cases of CVST were identified (29 case reports, of whom two were described in a case series, and the one case from our institution). The patients’ mean age was 39 years (range: 19 - 65). The male: female ratio was 1.14:1. The majority (73.3%) had at least one preexisting risk factor, with prescription drug use being the most common risk factor (33.3%) shared among all patients. Most patients (83.3%) presented with at least two symptoms. The most common presenting symptoms were headache (70%), gastrointestinal disturbance (50%), and seizures (40%). Focal deficits (36.7%), vision disturbances (30%), and altered consciousness (20%) were the remaining presenting complaints. Twelve cases (40%) commented on papilledema, with 10 (83.3%) having papilledema present. Anticoagulation abnormalities were examined in 26 cases (86.7%), out of which four cases (15.4%) had isolated protein S (PS) deficiency, three cases (11.5%) had isolated antithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency, and one case (3.8%) had isolated protein C (PC) deficiency. The most common initial imaging modality (22 cases, 73.3%), and most commonly used overall (23 cases, 76.7%), was computed tomography (CT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the second most common imaging modality for initial use (five cases, 16.7%), diagnosis or confirmation of CVST (eight cases, 26.7%), and overall (21 cases, 70%). Heparin treatment was involved in the treatment of 18 cases (60%), and warfarin treatment was used in 10 cases (33.3%). Heparin-warfarin combination treatment was utilized in eight cases (26.7%). Most patients survived (28 cases, 93.3%), while the two remaining patients died secondary to brain death from the CVST (6.7%).

The findings from this study highlight the clinical characteristics of CVST. Therefore, this study aims to increase awareness of this rare entity. Physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in order to diagnose patients presenting in the proper clinical context, given this case shares various forms of presentations with other common clinical conditions but requires long-term anticoagulation.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis presenting with multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case report

RATIONALE

Multifocal cerebral hemorrhage refers to the cerebral hemorrhage in 2 or more lesions at the same time or 48 h in the brain caused by various causes, which has an acute onset, high mortality rate, and poor clinical treatment effect. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is caused by the direct flow of blood into the subarachnoid cavity due to the rupture of the diseased vessels at the base or surface of the brain. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) affects approximately 5 people per million and accounts for approximately 1% of all stroke events. CVST with both SAH and multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as the first presentation is extremely rare.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 57-year-old woman presented with dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

DIAGNOSIS

Neuroimaging confirmed a diagnosis of CVST.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was treated with dehydration, scavenging free radicals, and nerve protection therapy.

OUTCOMES

After 4 weeks of systematic treatment, the patient resumed independent daily activities and was discharged with only slight non-fluent aphasia. She did not exhibit recurrent thrombosis at an 18-month follow-up point.

MAIN LESSONS

The usual treatment for sinus thrombosis is anticoagulation or local thrombolysis. Systemic anticoagulation is the first-line treatment for CVST, even in patients with cerebral hemorrhage or SAH. The present patient's hemorrhage clearly contraindicated heparin; therefore, no anticoagulants or thrombolytic agents were administered during the 4-week hospitalization. We discuss issues for consideration in similar cases and provide an example of determining an individualized approach to treatment.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis complicated by seizures: a retrospective analysis of 69 cases

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare ischemic cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to investigate the risk factors for complication of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis by seizures and to explore the impact of such seizures on clinical outcomes. Patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with or without epileptic seizures were retrospectively analyzed and compared in terms of clinical variables, causative factors, clinical presentation, and imaging data. In all, 69 patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis were enrolled in this study, 32 (46.38%) of whom had experienced secondary seizures. Compared with those with no seizures, significantly more patients with secondary seizures had hemiplegia (37.50 vs. 15.63%; P = 0.020), bleeding (29.40 vs. 10.81%; P = 0.047), lesions involving the frontal (31.25 vs. 10.81%; P = 0.023) and temporal lobe (43.75 vs. 8.11%; P = 0.005), and thrombosis in the superior sagittal sinus (65.63 vs. 40.54%; P = 0.036). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed focal neurological deficits (P = 0.004, odds ratio = 5.16, 95% CI 1.99–15.76) and thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus (P = 0.039, odds ratio = 0.13, 95% CI 0.04–0.37) were independent risk factors for secondary seizures in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. In addition, mortality rate (9.38 vs. 5.41%; P = 0.469) and 90-day excellent prognosis rate (81.25 vs. 86.47%; P = 0.793) did not differ significantly between patients with and without epileptic seizures. The presence of focal neurological deficits and thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus are independent risk factors for secondary seizures in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, whereas mortality and 90-day prognosis have no correlation with secondary seizures.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Associated with Intracranial Hemorrhage and Timing of Anticoagulation after Hemicraniectomy

BACKGROUND

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cerebrovascular event that can present with headache, seizure, and focal neurological deficits. Approximately 30%-40% of patients with CVT also present with intracranial hemorrhage. Current guidelines recommend anticoagulation after CVT even in the setting of intracranial hemorrhage, but the timing of initiation is unclear. We present a case of CVT where timing of anticoagulation was unclear by current guidelines.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search with search terms of "cerebral venous thrombosis," "intracranial hemorrhage," and "anticoagulation." Abstracted information included anticoagulation status and time of initiation of anticoagulation. We present a 30-year-old woman with sudden onset of right hemiplegia, global aphasia, and new-onset seizures diagnosed with left transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis with intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The patient was treated with endovascular thrombectomy and decompressive hemicraniectomy due to hemorrhage expansion, and anticoagulation was restarted 8 days after hemicraniectomy.

RESULTS

The literature review demonstrated a wide variation of timing for anticoagulation initiation in patients with CVT and intracranial hemorrhage. Most started anticoagulation within 24 hours of admission with similar functional neurological recovery. Current guidelines on the treatment of CVT, even with intracranial hemorrhage, recommend anticoagulation. Most reports in the literature state initiation of anticoagulation within 24 hours. However, the literature does not definitively state when to initiate anticoagulation in a patient with CVT, intracranial hemorrhage, thrombectomy, and decompressive hemicraniectomy.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates the challenge of determining when to resume anticoagulation for CVT.

Gradenigo syndrome: unusual consequence of otitis media

INTRODUCTION

In 1904, Giuseppe Gradenigo published his case series on the triad of ipsilateral abducens nerve palsy, facial pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution, and suppurative otitis media, which would subsequently be referred to as Gradenigo syndrome.

CASE REPORT

Our patient was a 36-year-old female, 23 weeks pregnant, with a 6-day history of right-sided otalgia and hearing loss and a 4-day history of purulent otorrhea, who presented with severe, holocephalic headache, meningeal signs, fever, photophobia, and mental status decline. Lumbar puncture yielded a white blood cell count of 1,559 cells/mm(3) with 95% polymorphonuclear leukocytes, a red blood cell count of 111 cells/mm(3), a protein level of 61 mg/dl, and a glucose level of <40 mg/dl. Cerebrospinal fluid Gram stain showed Gram-positive diplococci, which were subsequently identified as Streptococcus pneumoniae and treated with ceftriaxone. On the second hospital day, she developed horizontal diplopia due to right abducens nerve palsy and right mydriasis. Both symptoms resolved on the third hospital day. Erosion of temporal bone and opacification of mastoid air cells was shown on CT scan. A CT venogram showed an irregularity of the left transverse and superior sagittal sinuses. She was treated with enoxaparin for possible sinus thrombosis.

DISCUSSION

This case demonstrates rare but serious sequelae of otitis media and Gradenigo syndrome. Holocephalic headache from meningitis masked trigeminal pain. Involvement of the ipsilateral petrous apex and surrounding structures on imaging and clinical improvement with antibiotic treatment supports Gradenigo syndrome over intracranial hypertension due to venous sinus thrombosis as the cause of the abducens nerve palsy.

Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis

Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) is a rare phenomenon that can be seen with some frequency in young patients. CSVT is a multifactorial condition with gender-related specific causes, with a wide clinical presentation, the leading causes differ between developed and developing countries, converting CSVT in a condition characterized by a highly variable clinical spectra, difficult diagnosis, variable etiologies and prognosis that requires fine medical skills and a high suspicious index. Patients who presents with CSVT should underwent to CT-scan venography (CVT) and to the proper inquiry of the generating cause. This disease can affect the cerebral venous drainage and related anatomical structure. The symptoms may appear in relation to increased intracranial pressure imitating a pseudotumorcerebri. Prognosis depends on the early detection. Correcting the cause, generally the complications can be prevented. Mortality trends have diminished, and with the new technologies, surely it will continue. This work aims to review current knowledge about CSVT including its pathogenesis, etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.