Published Online
on January 8, 2004

A more recent version of this article appeared on February 1, 2004

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 35/2/544    most recent 01.STR.0000112972.09096.65v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stolz, E. Articles by Kaps, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stolz, E. Articles by Kaps, M. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB HEPARIN Related Collections CT and MRI Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Other imaging

Submitted on September 29, 2003
Accepted on October 22, 2003

Influence of Recanalization on Outcome in Dural Sinus Thrombosis. A Prospective Study

Erwin Stolz MD^*; Susan Trittmacher MD; Anousha Rahimi MD; Tibo Gerriets MD; Carina Röttger MD; Ralf Siekmann MD; and Manfred Kaps MD

From the Departments of Neurology (E.S., T.G., C.R., M.K.) and Neuroradiology (S.T., R.S.), Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, and Department of Neurology (A.R.), Katholisches Klinikum, St Josef Krankenhaus, Koblenz, Germany.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Erwin.stolz{at}neuro.med.uni-giessen.de.

Background and Purpose--Recanalization in dural sinus thrombosis (DST) has been observed previously; however, systematic prospective data are lacking. The influence of recanalization on DST outcome has not yet been thoroughly evaluated.

Methods--Thirty-seven consecutive patients with DST were prospectively examined. Neurological deficits were graded with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on hospital admission and discharge. Functional outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on hospital discharge and after 12 months. All patients were treated with intravenous heparin in the acute stage of illness, followed by oral anticoagulation for 12 months. Imaging follow-up with MR angiography and, in a few cases, with CT or conventional angiography was performed on hospital discharge and after 6 and 12 months.

Results--Twelve-month functional outcome was excellent in 89% of patients with an mRS of 0 or 1. A recanalization rate of 60% was already observed on hospital discharge (22±6 days); thereafter, recanalization rates increased insignificantly. Early recanalization was not related to NIHSS score on hospital discharge or an mRS of 0 on discharge or after 12 months.

Conclusions--We found a high frequency of early recanalization but without influence on clinical outcome parameters. Frequent imaging follow-ups in DST are not useful because they provide no information on patient outcome.

Key words: computed tomography • magnetic resonance imaging • outcome • recanalization • sinus thrombosis, intracranial

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Wasay and A. K. Kamal Anticoagulation in Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: Are We Treating Ourselves? Arch Neurol, July 1, 2008; 65(7): 985 - 987. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. V. Abeele, G. Saliou, P. Lehmann, M. Theaudin, E.-M Kocheida, B. Bonnaire, and J.-N Vallee Recanalization of cerebral venous thrombosis within 24 hours: A case report Neurology, July 10, 2007; 69(2): 221 - 221. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.L. Leach, W.M. Strub, and M.F. Gaskill-Shipley Cerebral Venous Thrombus Signal Intensity and Susceptibility Effects on Gradient Recalled-Echo MR Imaging AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2007; 28(5): 940 - 945. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.L. Leach, M. Wolujewicz, and W.M. Strub Partially Recanalized Chronic Dural Sinus Thrombosis: Findings on MR Imaging, Time-of-Flight MR Venography, and Contrast-Enhanced MR Venography AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., April 1, 2007; 28(4): 782 - 789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Leach, R. B. Fortuna, B. V. Jones, and M. F. Gaskill-Shipley Imaging of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Current Techniques, Spectrum of Findings, and Diagnostic Pitfalls RadioGraphics, October 1, 2006; 26(suppl_1): S19 - S41. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Dentali, M. Gianni, M. A. Crowther, and W. Ageno Natural history of cerebral vein thrombosis: a systematic review Blood, August 15, 2006; 108(4): 1129 - 1134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Rottger, K. Madlener, M. Heil, T. Gerriets, M. Walberer, T. Wessels, G. Bachmann, M. Kaps, and E. Stolz Is Heparin Treatment the Optimal Management for Cerebral Venous Thrombosis?: Effect of Abciximab, Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator, and Enoxaparin in Experimentally Induced Superior Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis Stroke, April 1, 2005; 36(4): 841 - 846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Rottger, S. Trittmacher, T. Gerriets, F. Blaes, M. Kaps, and E. Stolz Reversible MR Imaging Abnormalities following Cerebral Venous Thrombosis AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., March 1, 2005; 26(3): 607 - 613. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Sebire, B. Tabarki, D. E. Saunders, I. Leroy, R. Liesner, C. Saint-Martin, B. Husson, A. N. Williams, A. Wade, and F. J. Kirkham Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in children: risk factors, presentation, diagnosis and outcome Brain, March 1, 2005; 128(3): 477 - 489. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Kosinski, M. Mull, M. Schwarz, B. Koch, R. Biniek, J. Schlafer, E. Milkereit, K. Willmes, and J. Schiefer Do Normal D-dimer Levels Reliably Exclude Cerebral Sinus Thrombosis? Stroke, December 1, 2004; 35(12): 2820 - 2825. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]