Cerebral venous thrombosis in the mediterranean area in children

Evaluation of cases with cerebral thrombosis in children

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the patients who were followed up in our clinic with a diagnosis of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in terms of age, sex, clinical findings, etiology, thrombophilic factors, imaging findings, treatment and prognosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The files of 11 patients who were followed up in our pediatric neurology clinic with a diagnosis of cerebral thrombosis between 1 December 2010 and 31 December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Seven of 11 patients were male (63.6%). The median age was 14 years (2-17 years). Six (54%) of the patients presented with a complaint of headache. Other complaints at presentation included diplopia (n:3), weakness and difficulty in speaking (n:1) and seizure (n:1). A diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri was made in eight of the patients (72.7%). In the etiology, mastoiditis was found in three patients, mastoiditis and meningitis were found in combination in one patient, Behçet's disease was found in three patients and head trauma was found in one patient. In 3 patients, only prothrombotic genetic risk factors were present; one patient had deficiency of protein C and S, one patient had deficiency of antithrombin III and one patient had hyperhomosisteinemia in association with vitamin B12 deficiency. 1A homozygous MTFHR A1298C mutation was detected in the patient who had mastoiditis and meningitis and protein S deficiency and lupus anticoagulant were found in another patient who had mastoiditis. All patients received anticoagulant treatment and all patients recovered without neurological sequelae except one.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis should be considered in patients who present with headache and focal neurological deficits. Appropriate utilization of imaging studies is necessary for the diagnosis. Detailed ear, nose and throat examination should be performed to detect mastoiditis. It is recommended that genetic risk factors should be investigated, because hereditary thrombophilis factors may have a role in children. Behçet's disease which is relatively common in our country should be considered in differential diagnosis.

Venous sinus thrombosis in a child with nephrotic syndrome: a case report and literature review

Nephrotic syndrome is associated with a hypercoagulable state and an increased risk of thromboembolic complications. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare complication of nephrotic syndrome, with few cases described in the literature, although the disease may be under-diagnosis. The true incidence of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis may be underestimated because many events are asymptomatic or are not diagnosed in time. Here, we describe the case of a male child, 2 years and 10 months old, with nephrotic syndrome presenting with headache, epileptic seizures and sensory inhibition who was diagnosed with superior sagittal and transverse sinuses thrombosis. An international literature review was performed with a defined search strategy in the PubMed, SciELO and Lilacs databases using the terms ‘nephrotic syndrome’ and ‘cerebral sinovenous thrombosis’. The diagnosis of venous thrombosis should be considered in any patient with nephrotic syndrome who presents with neurological signs and symptoms, as early clinical diagnosis promotes favorable outcomes.

Extensive cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis in a 5 Year Old Girl, Following Mild Dehydration. (Case Report and Review of Literature)

Abstract

Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) in children has rarely been reported in the literature, especially without underlying disorder. It has increasingly been diagnosed due to clinical awareness and sensitive neuroimaging techniques. The aim of this article was to report a case of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis without underlying disorder. We reported a 5 year old girl, presented with severe headache and seizure. She had a history of fever and diarrhea before the onset of headache. Neuroimaging showed evidence of CSVT on MRI and magnetic resonance venography. Investigations showed no inherited thrombophilia. The patient was treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) which continued by warfarin. This case illustrated severe complications of dehydration in pediatrics without any evidence of underlying disorders.