Clinical, radiological profile and prognostic role of transcranial color-coded duplex in cerebral venous thrombosis: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare type of stroke, occurring more among young individuals. The presentation is highly variable, and this can delay diagnosis and management, thereby affecting outcome. The aim is to study the clinical, radiological profile, risk factors for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and the role of transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD) in CVT prognosis among Egyptian patients. METHODS: Eighty CVT patients and 80 normal healthy individuals were included. Magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance venography, and genetic thrombophilia tests were done for patients. Deep cerebral venous system was evaluated using B-mode transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD) for both groups. RESULTS: Showed female predominance with gender specific risk factors being the most common etiology. The most common hereditary thrombophilia was homozygous factor V Leiden mutation and anti-thrombin III (AT III). Headache was the most common presentation. Forty-three patients had transverse sinus thrombosis. Regarding TCCD, there was an increase in mean blood flow velocities, peak flow velocities and end diastolic flow velocities in deep middle cerebral vein and basal veins in CVT group compared to control group. There was a positive correlation not reaching statistical significance between flow velocities in the deep venous system and modified Rankin Scale. CONCLUSION: Clinical presentation is extremely variable. In our population, homozygous factor V Leiden mutation and AT III deficiency were the most common. Increased deep cerebral venous system flow velocities using TCCD in patients with CVT reflect their venous hemodynamic state.