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Mechanistic Deep Dive
CVST Pathophysiology
- Thrombus in venous sinus
- â venous pressure
- â ICP
- Cerebral edema
- Venous infarct (different from arterial â doesnât follow territory)
- Hemorrhage common (high pressure, ischemia)
Pregnancy Hypercoagulability
- Estrogen â â clotting factors
- Venous stasis (gravid uterus)
- Endothelial injury (delivery)
- Highest risk postpartum
Recent Trials & Updates
TO-ACT (2020)
- Endovascular treatment for CVST
- Mixed/negative
- Reserve for severe/refractory
COVID-19 and CVST
- Increased risk during infection
- Cytokine storm
- Endothelial dysfunction
- COVID-19 vaccine VITT (adenoviral)
CHANCE-2 (2021)
- Ticagrelor + ASA vs clopidogrel + ASA
- CYP2C19 LOF carriers
- Ticagrelor better in this group
High-Yield Specialist Points
Empty Delta Sign
- On contrast CT
- Thrombus in superior sagittal sinus
- Surrounded by enhanced dura
Cortical Vein Thrombosis
- May occur without sinus involvement
- Local cortical hemorrhage
- Seizures, focal deficits
- Imaging can be subtle
Treatment Duration
- Provoked (transient risk): 3-6 months
- Idiopathic: 6-12 months
- High-risk thrombophilia (APS, AT III deficiency): often indefinite
- Recurrence: indefinite
DOACs for CVST
- Limited evidence vs warfarin
- RESPECT-CVT (small trial), EINSTEIN-Jr
- Generally acceptable for non-pregnant
- Pregnancy: LMWH
Pregnancy CVST Management
- LMWH throughout
- Plan for delivery
- Postpartum continue for several months
- Future pregnancy: LMWH prophylaxis
CVST in IBD
- Increased risk
- Anticoagulate cautiously (GI bleeding)
CVST Sequelae
- Recurrence ~ 3-5%
- Chronic headache
- Seizure
- Cognitive impairment
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension-like syndrome
- Visual loss
TIA Detection Trials
- Many âTIAsâ are actually small strokes on DWI
- ~ 30-50% have DWI lesions
Crescendo TIA
- Recurrent TIAs in short period
- High stroke risk
- Admission, urgent intervention
Capsular Warning Syndrome
- Recurrent transient lacunar TIAs
- High risk of completed lacunar stroke
- May need DAPT, BP optimization
Pearls
- CVST risk: pregnancy/postpartum, OCP, infection, cancer, COVID, VITT
- MRV for diagnosis
- Anticoagulation even with hemorrhage
- VITT: non-heparin anticoag + IVIG
- TIA: tissue-based definition (no DWI lesion)
- High stroke risk after TIA â urgent workup
- ABCD2 stratifies
- DAPT 21 days for high-risk minor stroke/TIA
- Secondary prevention = same as stroke