Abstract
Background and Objectives: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon disorder which mainly affects women in childbearing ages. Clinical symptoms are variable, thereby making both diagnosis and treatment difficult. The aim of the present study was to report three successful treatment of progressive CVT.
Materials and Methods: Three patients with progressive CVT who developed severe headache and blurred vision despite anticoagulant therapy were referred for endovascular treatment. After cerebral angiography, the involved venous sinus was detected. Thereafter, 20 mg of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tpa) was injected over 30 minutes into the thrombus site.
Results: The studied patients were 41, 44 and 47 years old. Left lateral sinus and right lateral sinus was involved in two cases and one patient, respectively. All the three cases showed dramatic response to local thrombolysis and they were discharged four days after treatment with normal neurologic findings.
Conclusion: Although standard treatment for CVT is anticoagulant therapy, this method of treatment is sometimes ineffective in progressive cases. In these cases, endovascular interventions and direct thrombolysis are recommended.