An Evaluation of the Frequency of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis and Its Associated Factors in Sanandaj, 2010-2011, Iran

Venous sinus thrombosis is a rare cerebrovascular disorder with different geographical and age distribution. The prevalence of this disease is 5 persons per million per year, and has various risk factors. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of cerebral venous thrombosis and its associated symptoms in Sanandaj. In this descriptive study, all patients with suspected cerebral venous thrombosis who had been hospitalized at Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj (referral hospital of the province) during the years 2010-2011, were investigated. After data collection from the patients’ medical records, they were analyzed using descriptive statistics. In this study, 24 (80%) out of 30 patients were female, and the mean age was calculated 36.2±13.7 years. Twenty-six subjects (86.7%) had headache. The most common clinical finding was reported to be the left hemiparesis in 10 cases (33.3%), followed by papilledema in 9 (30%). Involvement of upper sagittal sinus was observed in 25 subjects (83.3%) and right transverse sinus in 9 subjects (30%), respectively. The most commonly involved site was right brain hemisphere, and one patient (3%) was died. The results of this study showed that the high prevalence of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in women compared to men can be a sign of association of this disease with risk factors, such as OCP, pregnancy, and puerperium. Also, involvement of the right brain hemisphere was more common, for which no explanation was found and further studies are needed.