Cerebral Venous Sinus (Sinovenous) Thrombosis in Children




Cerebral venous sinus (sinovenous) thrombosis (CSVT) in childhood is a rare, but underrecognized, disorder, typically of multifactorial etiology, with neurologic sequelae apparent in up to 40% of survivors and mortality approaching 10%. There is an expanding spectrum of perinatal brain injury associated with neonatal CSVT. Although there is considerable overlap in risk factors for CSVT in neonates and older infants and children, specific differences exist between the groups. Clinical symptoms are frequently nonspecific, which may obscure the diagnosis and delay treatment. While morbidity and mortality are significant, CSVT recurs less commonly than arterial ischemic stroke in children. Appropriate management may reduce the risk of recurrence and improve outcome, however there are no randomized controlled trials to support the use of anticoagulation in children. Although commonly employed in many centers, this practice remains controversial, highlighting the continued need for high-quality studies. This article reviews the literature pertaining to pediatric venous sinus thrombosis.


Cerebral venous sinus (sinovenous) thrombosis (CSVT) is an increasingly recognized cause of childhood and neonatal stroke. Recent developments in the field highlight the expanding spectrum of perinatal brain injury associated with neonatal CSVT. Although there is considerable overlap in risk factors for neonatal and childhood CSVT, specific differences exist between the groups. Management remains controversial, unlike in adult sinovenous thrombosis. However, morbidity and mortality are significant, highlighting the continued need for high-quality studies within this field. This article reviews the literature on childhood CSVT ( Table 1 ) and highlights developments in our understanding of neonatal CSVT.



Table 1

Pediatric CSVT literature summary









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Study No. of patients Demographics, N (%) Risk Factors Infarction (%) Treatment (%) Outcome (%)
Country Males Neonate None, N (%) Systemic (N or %) Infection (%) PT (%) Acute ACT Chronic ACT Follow-up (y) Death Abnormal
Mallick et al, 2009 21 UK 10 (48) 0 2 (10) Nephrotic syndrome (3) Any infection (71) 25 14 100 67 0.42–6 10 29
CNS tumor (1) OM/Mastoiditis (62) Bland (100) UFH (100) Coumadin (100)
OCP (2) Sepsis (10) Hemorrhagic (0) LMWH (14) LMWH (19)
Dehydration (14)
Anemia (19)
Vieira et al, 2009 53 Portugal 30 (57) 6 (11) 7 (13) Nephrotic syndrome (2) Any infection (57) 40 NR 68 100 1.1–6 0 43
CNS tumor (1) Mastoiditis (43) Coumadin (100)
SLE (1) Meningitis (13)
Head trauma (1)
Diabetes (1)
Chemotherapy (5)
Dehydration (4)
Wasay et al, 2008 70 USA 28 (40) 25 (36) 7 (10) Nephrotic syndrome (1) Any infection (40) 56 NR 21 12 NR 13 46
SLE (2) OM/MA/Sinusitis (24) Coumadin (100)
SCD (1) Meningitis (3)
Homocystinuria (3) Sepsis (13)
Leukemia (2)
OCP (1)
Chemotherapy (1)
Dehydration (4)
Anemia (10)
Fever (33)
Kenet et al, 2007 396 Germany 236 (60) 75 (19) NR NR NR NR 10 63 42 0–7.1 3 NR
Israel Bland (10) UFH (51) LMWH (76)
UK Hemorrhagic (90) LMWH (48)
Belgium
Fitzgerald et al, 2006 42 USA 24 (57) 42 (100) NR Cardiac condition (11) Any infection (17) 64 60 7 0 0.2–15 3 79
Dehydration (26) Meningitis (10) Bland (12)
Sepsis (7) Hemorrhagic (88)
IVH (20)
Bonduel et al, 2006 38 Argentina 27 (71) NR 3 (8) SLE (1) Any Infection (50) NR NR 68 68 0.25–11.5 23 32
CNS tumor (2) LMWH (68) Coumadin (100)
Leukemia (8)
Lymphoma (2)
Head trauma (2)
Chemotherapy (7)
Dehydration (5)
Sébire et al, 2005 42 UK 27 (64) NR 0 Cardiac condition (2) Any infection (55) 62 60 43 43 0.5–10 12 62
IBD (1) OM (41) Bland (52) UFH (83)
Nephrotic syndrome (3) MA (26) Hemorrhagic (48) LMWH (17)
SLE (2)
SCD (2)
Thalassemia (1)
CNS tumor (2)
Leukemia (2)
Dehydration (19)
Anemia (19)
Kenet et al, 2004 46 Israel 29 (63) 8 (17) 7 (15) Cardiac condition (4) Any infection (39) 42 NR 88 NR NR 4 17
IBD (1) MA/Sinusitis (35)
SLE (2)
Homocystinuria (1)
OCP (1)
Head trauma (4)
Barnes et al, 2004 16 Australia 8 (50) 0 NR NR Any infection (88) 31 NR 63 NR 0.02–5 NR 38
OM/MA (44) UFH (30)
Meningitis/Abscess (44) LMWH (80)
Coumadin (30)
Heller et al, 2003 149 Germany 84 (56) 40 (27) 44 (30) IBD (1) Any infection (44) 56 NR 88 73 NR 0 NR
Nephrotic syndrome (1) OM (3) UFH (47) LMWH (100)
Steroid use (3) MA (9) LMWH (40)
OCP (4) Meningitis (4)
Head trauma (10) Sepsis (5)
Sinusitis (3)
Varicella (1)
Gastroenteritis (3)
Wu et al, 2002 30 USA NR 30 (100) 4 (13) Cardiac condition (7) Any infection (13) 57 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Dehydration (3) Sepsis (10)
Pneumonia (3)
Huisman et al, 2001 19 Switzerland 9 (47) 0 NR Head trauma (9) Any infection (37) NR 11 NR NR NR 11 NR
MA (32)
Meningitis (5)
DeVeber et al, 2001 160 Canada 87 (57) 69 (43) 4 (3) Cardiac condition (8) Any infection (27) 24 41 53 NR 0.05–5.2 8 38
Dehydration (25) Sepsis (18) Bland (32) LWMH (59)
Hemorrhagic (68) UFH (41)
Coumadin (46)
Carvalho et al, 2000 31 USA 21 (68) 19 (61) NR Cardiac condition (4) Any infection (39) NR 48 0 0 NR 13 52
CNS tumor (1) MA (23)
Chemotherapy (1) Meningitis (10)
Dehydration (13) Sepsis (7)

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Oct 13, 2017 | Posted by in NEUROSURGERY | Comments Off on Cerebral Venous Sinus (Sinovenous) Thrombosis in Children

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