Cerebral venous thrombosis in a Caribbean population.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare affliction characterized by a wide diversity in its clinical expression and etiologies. Data from black populations concerning CVT are limited. We examined the clinical, radiological, and etiological aspects as well as the outcome of CVT in Guadeloupe, a French Overseas Department in the Caribbean. METHODS: All patients hospitalized between 2000 and 2011 at the University Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre and diagnosed with CVT were retrospectively studied. Forty-five patients, each having had a medical imaging confirming the diagnostic, were retained. RESULTS: The frequency of CVT in Guadeloupe was estimated at 15 to 20 per 100,0000 per year in our survey. Our patients were largely composed of young women (73.3%). The average patient age was 40 years (14 to 80), with an incidence peak for women in the 20 to 50 years age range. The onset was sub-acute in 69% of cases, where headaches represented 93% of initial symptoms. Thrombosis of the SLS (60%), and of the lateral sinuses (64.4%) were the most frequently encountered. We observed a majority of mild clinical forms with a good functional prognosis. The main etiological factors were oral estro-progestative contraception (40%), and a positive thrombophilia test (33.3%). The thrombophilia factors in Guadeloupe differed from those in Caucasian populations, with a higher frequency of protein S deficit. CONCLUSION: The clinical and radiological characters are similar to those described in classical studies. Our study suggests a higher incidence of CVT in Guadeloupe, compared to results from Western countries. Further investigation is necessary to better characterize the thrombo-embolic venous risk factors in the black population. Protein S deficit appears to be the most frequent cause of thrombophilia in our population.