Clinical Characteristics and Management of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia

Clinical Significance of D-dimer Level and Numeric Rating Scale with Amount of Sinus Involvement in Cerebral Sinus Thrombosis Patients

Introduction

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a cerebral vascular disorder that currently occurs quite often and has very varied clinical symptoms. Headache is the main symptom most commonly found in patients with CVST and multiple sinus involvement often have a more severe prognosis and poor clinical outcome. This study aimed to learn the relationship between D-dimer level, numeric rating scale (NRS), and amount of sinus involvement in CVST patients.

Methods

This study was a retrospective observational analytic study with a cross-sectional approach using medical records and supporting data (D-dimer level and imaging finding) on patients diagnosed with CVST at Dr Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung.

Results

Sixty-five CVST patients met the study criteria with mean age of 47 years and mostly female (76.9%). Patients with single sinus involvement had a median initial NRS of 4 (range 2-6) and multiple sinus involvement was higher at 8 (range 5-9). Statistical test results showed a significant difference between D-dimer level, NRS and amount of sinus involvement (P<0.001).

Conclusion

D-dimer level, NRS, and amount of sinus involvement are associated with amount of sinus involvement in CVST patients. Involvement of multiple sinus will cause higher NRS with higher D-dimer level.

Characteristics of patients with cerebral sinus venous thrombosis and JAK2 V617F mutation

OBJECTIVES

Janus kinase 2 (JAK2-V617F) mutations can cause thrombocytosis, polycythemia and hyper viscosity leading to cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT). However, data regarding the characteristics and prevalence of JAK2-V617F mutation in patients with CSVT are currently lacking. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of CSVT patients that carry the JAK2 mutation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of consecutive patients with CSVT, admitted to three large academic medical centers between 2010 and 2020, were retrospectively studied. Demographics, clinical presentations, radiological and clinical outcome parameters were compared between carriers of the JAK2-V617F mutation and controls.

RESULTS

Out of 404 patients diagnosed with CSVT, 26 patients (6.5%) were carriers of the mutation. JAK2 mutation carriers more often had thrombocytosis (54% vs. 1%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, carriers of the JAK2 mutation less often had involvement of the transverse sinus (50% vs. 68%, p = 0.021). Finally, patients with the JAK2 mutation were more prone to have intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH, 31% vs. 17%, p = 0.044), but there was no significant difference between groups in terms of mortality nor functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

JAK2 mutation is not uncommon in patients with CSVT and should be routinely screened for in this population. CSVT in JAK2 mutation carriers may have a tendency toward involving specific venous sinuses and is associated with a higher rate of ICH but similar overall prognosis.

Primary Arterial Hypertension and Drug-Induced Hypertension in Philadelphia-Negative Classical Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Systematic Review

The impact of primary arterial hypertension (HTN) in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) remains unclear, with scant literature available, mostly focusing on cardiovascular risk factors as a singular entity or on organ-specific HTN. Furthermore, available studies reporting findings on drug-induced HTN in MPNs report varying and contradictory findings. In consideration of the above, this study set out to systematically review the available literature and shed light on the occurrence of HTN in MPNs, its association with thrombosis, as well as the drugs used in MPN management that could increase blood pressure. The literature search yielded 598 potentially relevant records of which 315 remained after the duplicates (n = 283) were removed. After we screened the titles and the abstracts of these publications, we removed irrelevant papers (n = 228) and evaluated the full texts of 87 papers. Furthermore, 13 records did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded from the systematic review. Finally, a total of 74 manuscripts were entered into the qualitative synthesis and included in the present systematic review. Our systematic review highlights that HTN is the most common comorbidity encountered in MPNs, with an impact on both the occurrence of thrombosis and survival. Moreover, drug-induced HTN remains a challenge in the management of MPNs. Further research should investigate the characteristics of patients with MPNs and HTN, as well as clarify the contribution of HTN to the development of thrombotic complications, survival and management in MPNs. In addition, the relationship between clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, HTN, cardiovascular disease and MPNs requires examination in upcoming assessments.

Case Report of a 13-Year-Old Female With Trauma Secondary to a Fall From a Golf Cart, Found to Have Intraparenchymal & Subarachnoid Hemorrhages With Transverse Sinus Thrombosis

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is the occlusion of cerebral veins of the brain secondary to blood clot formation. These can result in increased intracranial pressure, cerebral edema, and may even have fatal consequences such as a stroke. Despite CVSTs being considered a rare pathology, these are said to have an increased incidence in the pediatric population. These individuals with CVST are often asymptomatic causing physicians to often overlook and delay possibly life-saving interventions. The current literature is lacking on CVST examples in the “older” range of the pediatric population, specifically teenagers. Here we present the case of a 13-year-old female with trauma secondary to a fall from a golf cart, who was found to have intraparenchymal and subarachnoid hemorrhages with transverse sinus thrombosis.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis as the initial presentation of essential thrombocythemia - A case report and literature review

Myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) are associated with vascular thrombosis. Common sites for thrombosis are large arteries; however, less commonly, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) has also been reported. It is rare to have CVST as an initial presentation of MPD. We discuss a male patient in whose presentation due to CVST led to the diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia (ET). Furthermore, we performed a literature review to evaluate the association of CVST with ET.

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Myeloproliferative disorders can rarely manifest as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with its initial presentation.

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Literature review suggests a female preponderance for the development of CVST in MPD.

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Patients usually have a favorable outcome with anticoagulation and cytoreductive therapy.

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The role of novel anticoagulants is emerging in patients with CVST.

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Until more evidence is available, it should be limited where standard anticoagulation cannot be done safely.

Cerebral venous thrombosis and myeloproliferative neoplasms: A three-center study of 74 consecutive cases

The recent association of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) with COVID‐19 vaccinations prompted the current retrospective review of 74 cases of CVT (median age = 44 years, range 15–85; 61% females) associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), seen at the Mayo Clinic, Catholic University of Rome, and University of Florence, between 1991 and 2021. Disease‐specific frequencies were 1.3% (39/2893), 1.2% (21/1811) and 0.2% (3/1888) for essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera and primary myelofibrosis, respectively. Cerebral venous thrombosis occurred either prior to (n = 20, 27%), at (n = 32, 44%) or after (n = 22) MPN diagnosis. A total of 72% of patients presented with headaches. Transverse (51%), sagittal (43%) and sigmoid sinuses (35%) were involved with central nervous system hemorrhage noted in 10 (14%) patients. In all, 91% of tested patients harbored JAK2V617F. An underlying thrombophilic condition was identified in 19 (31%) cases and history of thrombosis in 10 (14%). Treatment for CVT included systemic anticoagulation alone (n = 27) or in conjunction with aspirin (n = 24), cytoreductive therapy (n = 14), or both (n = 9). At a median follow‐up of 5.1 years (range 0.1–28.6), recurrent CVT was documented in three (4%) patients while recurrent arterial and venous thromboses and major hemorrhage were recorded in 11%, 9% and 14%, respectively. Follow‐up neurological assessment revealed headaches (n = 9), vision loss (n = 1) and cognitive impairment (n = 1). The current study lends clarity to MPN‐associated CVT and highlights its close association with JAK2V617F, younger age and female gender. Clinical features that distinguish COVID vaccine‐related CVT from MPN‐associated CVT include, in the latter, lower likelihood of concurrent venous thromboses and intracerebral hemorrhage; as a result, MPN‐associated CVT was not fatal.