Clinicoepidemiological profile of cerebral venous thrombosis in Algarve, Portugal: A retrospective observational study

Introduction

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke with highly variable clinical features, heterogeneous predisposing factors, and unspecific brain imaging findings. Depending on the methodology used, the annual incidence of CVT is between 0.22 and 1.32/100,000/year.[12345] The outcome of patients with CVT varies from complete recovery to permanent neurological deficits.[678] There are few studies characterizing the clinical and epidemiological experience concerning CVT, and most of them are from large centers or university hospitals. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional review of case series of CVT from relatively peripheral region of Europe, the Algarve. Our aim was to characterize the clinical manifestations, treatment, risk factors, clinical course, and to estimate the incidence of CVT in the region.

Materials and Methods

Results

Thirty-five patients with CVT were identified using the ICD coding for CVT. Six additional cases were retrieved from the CLINIDATA database. 10 cases were excluded from the analysis (6 patients younger than 15 years, and 4 nonresidents), which left a final number of 31 cases in 11 years. The average annual incidence rate was estimated to be 0.71 (CI: 0.49–0.99) per 100 000 cases for general population, in 2001, and 0.62 (CI: 0.43–0.88) per 100 000 for general population, in 2011. For people older than 15 years the incidence rate was estimated to be 0.84 (CI: 0.58–1.18) per 100 000 cases, in 2001, and 0.73 (CI: 0.5–1.02) per 100 000 cases, in 2011.

There were 23 (74%) women and 8 (26%) men (3:1 ratio). The mean age was 37.4 years (range 16–71 years), with a median of 32 years. The initial clinical manifestations are summarized in Table 1. Predominant initial manifestations were headache 23 (74.1%), followed by altered mental status (AMS) - 10 (32.2%), and seizures 6 (19.6%). Median diagnostic delay from onset of illness was 6 days (range 0–41 days). There were no significant differences between both genders (P = 0.16), age was also no significantly associated to greater delay (P = 0.899).

Table 1 Demographic, clinicoradiological findings and risk factors of patients with cerebral vein thrombosis

Although not statistically significant, a tendency for decreasing delay in time to diagnosis was found (P = 0.4) [Figure 1]. The radiologic features are summarized in Table 1. The first brain TC was considered normal in the majority 19 (61.3%), diagnostic in 7 (22.6%), and gave an alternative diagnosis in four cases (12.9%): Arterial ischemic stroke (2), subarachnoid hemorrhage (1), and cerebritis (1). MRI was performed in all patients. Diagnosis was confirmed by MRV in 27 (87%) patients and by cerebral angiography in four (12.9%). All patients were treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) followed by warfarin. Until 2005 (n = 14), UFH was used in the majority of patients (13/92.9%), and from 2006 on (n = 17), most patients were treated with LMWH (11/64.7%). In one patient, neurosurgical treatment with ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed in an attempt to avoid visual loss due to severe intracranial hypertension. Regarding risk factors for CVT [Table 1], 25 (80.6%) patients had at least one risk factor, and 12 (38.7%) two risk factors. Oral contraceptives were found in 16 (69.6%) women. 7 (43.7%) of them had an additional predisposing factor. Activated protein C resistance/factor V Leiden (5), prothrombin G20210A (1), and protein S deficiency (1) were the genetic thrombophilias discovered. Isolated cases of systemic disease that could predispose or potentially predispose to CVT were sarcoidosis, thalassemia minor, iron deficiency anemia, malignancy, nephrotic syndrome, and essential thrombocytosis. Concerning the clinical evolution, at the follow evaluation (3–24 months after discharged) complete recovery occurred in the majority 22 (78.6%) and partial recovery in 2 (7.1%). Two patients died during hospitalization (2/6.5%), and (3/9.6%) were partial dependent (mRS ≥3) with severe sequelae - epilepsy, severe visual loss, motor deficit. During the follow-up no deaths occurred.

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Figure 1

Distribution of cases over time and median delay time to diagnosis of cerebral vein thrombosis

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Discussion

The frequency in which CVT is recognized is increasing due to greater awareness and availability of noninvasive diagnostic techniques.[67] Indeed, the only study to date with a specific objective to address the incidence of CVT, revealed the highest incidence known, 1.32/100,000/year.[5] There are no studies specifically addressing the incidence of CVT in our country. Even so, it is worth to highlight that the annual incidence of CVT we found is superior to that previously described in Portugal (0.22/100.000/year).[2] We believe that modern imaging tools such as MRV introduced in both hospitals in 2002 (Hospital de Portimão) and 2008 (Hospital de Faro) contributed to the increase of diagnosis and reduction of the time to diagnosis. Indeed, CVT was diagnosed by noninvasive imaging – MRV (24/85.7%) in the majority. Our median time to diagnosis (8 days) is comparable to the findings from our county and from the International Study CVT (ISCVT) (7–9 days).[21013] The absence of specific clinical manifestations contributes to delayed diagnosis of CVT. Furthermore, as shown in our case series, brain CT can be normal, show subtle abnormalities or even lead to an alternative diagnosis. This emphasizes the need of a high clinical suspicion and actively exclude or confirm the diagnosis using available resources.

Patients in the region with potential severe neurological conditions are exclusively referred to one of the two hospitals from which the present data was extracted. This absence of dispersion potentially contributes to greater identification and recognition of cases of CVT. The demographics and clinical presentation in this study are comparable to what has been reported in the majority of recent studies from developed countries. As almost all studies, the most common clinical presentation was headache, followed by AMS and seizures. The overall prevalence of risk factors was 85.7%, with 39.2% having at least two risk factors. Genetic thrombophilias were identified in 21.4% of cases, <34.1 found in the ISCVT study.[10] Because patients were followed and investigated by different physicians, the possibility of incomplete screening of genetic thrombophilias must be considered. Our study confirms the decrease of infection as a cause of CVT in the western countries, contrasting to findings from low to middle-income countries.[11] Reduction of the frequency of infection and availability of early effective antibiotic treatment justifies this difference.[812]

Early anticoagulation is the mainstay of treatment and reduces morbidity in CVT.[67] LMWH is preferable over UFH.[14] All patients received anticoagulation. From 2006 on, LMWH was preferentially used over UFH. The prognosis of CVT is better than thought in the past.[121516] Our rate of death (3.6%) and rate of dependency (mRS ≥3) (10.7%) are among the lowest found in the literature.[14] The mortality in published studies with >20 patients (1999–2004) ranged from 0% to 36%.[15] A systematic review of studies on CVT disclosed an overall mortality of 9.4% and a proportion of dependency (mRS ≥3) of 9.7%.[16] However, comparison between hospital-based studies of CVT is limited by the differences in population involved, etiology of CVT, as also by disparate availability of expertise and resources for clinical management. Our study has important limitations. We cannot exclude the possibility of under-representation of cases with poor prognosis, per example, in patients with extensive intracranial hemorrhage, where the possibility or investigation of CVT may not be considered, as also in less severe situations, such as the cases of isolated headache without clinical progression. In addition, because of the retrospective nature of our study, the absence of uniform clinical evaluation, treatment and etiological work-up for CVT in our hospitals, the possibility of recording bias, and undervaluation of clinical pertinent clinical information is considerable. In conclusion, our clinical findings including the prognosis in CVT are comparable to those described in the most recent reports from industrialized countries.