Optic Nerve Sheath Fenestration for Papilledema Due to Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Associated with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Case Report

Patient: Male, 21-year-old Final Diagnosis: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome • cerebral venous sinus thrombosis Symptoms: Blurring of vision • confusion • fever • headache Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Laboratory • magnetic resonance imaging Specialty: Neurology • Ophthalmology OBJECTIVE: Rare disease BACKGROUND: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a serious life- and vision-threatening condition that can have a variable presentation according to the site of venous occlusion, including mimicking idiopathic intracranial hyper-tension. We report on a patient with primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) who presented with papilledema due to CVST that was refractory to medical treatment but responded to optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF). CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old man presented with blurred vision of gradual onset and a progressive course for 1 month, accompanied by fever, headache, and confusion. He had a history of lower-limb deep vein thrombosis. Examination revealed decreased vision with bilateral grade IV papilledema. Magnetic resonance venography showed evidence of CVST and laboratory investigations revealed lupus anticoagulant antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, with hyperhomocysteinemia. The patient did not meet the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nor the new European League Against Rheumatism and American College of Rheumatology SLE classification criteria. He was diagnosed with CVST secondary to APS and hyperhomocysteinemia and treated with acetazolamide, systemic anticoagulation, and vitamins for 1 month, but with no improvement in his ophthalmic condition. He subsequently underwent unilateral ONSF, which resulted in improvement in vision bilaterally that continued throughout a 6-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Papilledema associated with CVST can be the first presentation of APS. When performed in a timely manner, ONSF can save useful vision and lead to improvement in vision in patients with papilledema due to CVST that is refractory to medical treatment.