Cerebral venous thrombosis as a complication of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Characteristics and Management of Autoimmune Disease-Associated Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a central nervous system disease characterised by thrombosis in cerebral venous or dural sinuses. Autoimmune diseases, a series of diseases caused by immune responses to autoantigens, are important causes of CVST. The most common diseases that lead to CVST are Behçet’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Each of these diseases have different clinical and imaging manifestations and treatment for CVST varies by aetiology. This review summarises the characteristics and the current management strategies for autoimmune disease-associated CVST and emphasises controversial therapeutic strategies to provide informative reference information for diagnosis and treatment. Risk factors of autoimmune antigens should not be neglected when unconventional CVST occurs, and both drugs and interventional therapy need further standardisation and discussion with more prospective clinical studies.

Stroke in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome: risk factors, clinical manifestations, neuroimaging, and treatment

Neurologic disorders are among the most common and important clinical manifestations associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), mainly those that affect the central nervous system (CNS). Risk of cerebrovascular events in both conditions is increased, and stroke represents one of the most severe complications, with an incidence rate between 3% and 20%, especially in the first five years of diagnosis. This article updates the data regarding the risk factors, clinical manifestations, neuroimaging, and treatment of stroke in SLE and APS.

Septic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Septic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, once a common and deadly disease, has fortunately become rare now. Not only that the incidence has fallen significantly after the antibiotic era, the morbidity and mortality has also decreased substantially. Cavernous sinus thrombosis is by far the commonest form of septic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Due to its rare occurrence, a lot of current generation clinicians have not encountered the entity in person. Despite all the advances in diagnostic modalities, a high index of clinical suspicion remains the mainstay in prompt diagnosis and management of this potentially lethal condition. Keeping this in view, the authors have reviewed the subject including the old literature and have summarized the current approach to diagnosis and management. Septic cavernous thrombosis is a fulminant disease with dramatic presentation in most cases comprised of fever, periorbital pain and swelling, associated with systemic symptoms and signs. The preceding infection is usually in the central face or paranasal sinuses. The disease rapidly spreads to contralateral side and if remains undiagnosed and untreated can result in severe complications or even death. Prompt diagnosis using radiological imaging in suspected patient, early use of broad spectrum antibiotics, and judicial use of anticoagulation may save the life and prevent disability. Surgery is used only to treat the nidus of infection.