Efficacy of stenting in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis-related cerebral venous sinus stenosis

Abstract

Background: Venous stenting has been proven to be a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and cerebral venous sinus stenosis (CVSS). However, its use in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis-related CVSS has been less reported.

Purpose: To explore the safety and efficacy of stenting for patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST)-related CVSS.

Methods: The clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients with CVST-related CVSS received venous stenting in the chronic stage after failed medical treatment were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: A total of 17 patients with CVST-related CVSS were included. Mean pressure gradient across the CVSS decreased from 11.5±4.2 mmHg prior to stenting to 2.1±1.1 mmHg post- stenting. Mean CSF opening pressure decreased from 33.1±5.5 cmH₂O to 18.7±1.7 cmH₂O. Both headache and visual disturbance improved or resolved in 78% and 92% of the patients, respectively. Complications included lethal cerebellar hematoma in one case and bilateral occipital epidural hematoma in another case. One of the patients received retreatment with ventriculo-peritoneal shunting due to recurrent headache.

Conclusion: Restoring the patency of stenotic sinuses with stents in patients of CVST-related CVSS unresponsive to medical therapy in the chronic stage may improve symptoms in the majority of the patients. However, a relatively higher cerebral hemorrhage rate was observed and may be related to this pathology. Stenting in this subgroup of CVSS patients may require further evaluation with a larger and long-term study, and should be used with caution at this time.

Keywords: stenosis; stent; vein.