Clinical Profiles, Risk Factors, and Radiological Findings of Cerebral Venous and Dural Sinus Thrombosis: A 10-Year Retrospective Review

Background Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) accounts for 0.5% of all strokes, predominantly affecting young women due to pregnancy, puerperium, and oral contraceptive use. Clinical presentations include intracranial hypertension, focal deficits, seizures, and encephalopathy. Data on CVT in Ethiopia remain scarce. This study aimed to describe the clinical profiles, risk factors, and radiological findings of CVT at a tertiary center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods and Analysis : We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional review of 105 cases of cerebral venous and dural sinus thrombosis at Yehuleshet Specialized Clinic, Ethiopia, between January 1, 2010, and December 30, 2019. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were extracted and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results The mean age of the study participants was 34.8 + 14.3 years. Females accounted for the majority (61.9%) with a female-to-male ratio of 1:0.6. Infections (21%) were the most common risk factors identified, while pregnancy and puerperium were the most common gender-specific risk factors. Headache was the most common complaint, reported in 90.5%, followed by visual disturbances in 41.9% and seizures in 25.7% of patients. All patients had brain magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance venography studies, and considering both single and multiple vessel thrombosis, the left transverse sinus (42.9%) and left sigmoid sinus (39%) were the most frequently involved. The majority of patients (72.4%) were treated with heparin, of whom 72% received unfractionated heparin, followed by warfarin. Conclusions In this retrospective review, CVT predominantly affected young women, with infections, pregnancy, and puerperium as main risk factors. Headache was the most common symptom, the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses were most frequently involved, and heparin was the primary treatment. These findings highlight the importance of timely diagnosis and management of CVT.