Opportunities of endovascular treatment for cerebral venous thrombosis

Abstract

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare condition that can be fatal in severe cases. The limited occurrence of CVT poses challenges in conducting randomized controlled trials, leading to uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in specific subgroups of patients with CVT. Currently, a growing body of new evidence has been published on various aspects of CVT diagnosis and treatment, including studies on prognosis assessment scales and EVT therapy. Anticoagulation remains the primary treatment during the acute phase of CVT, as demonstrated by the thrombolysis or anticoagulation for cerebral venous thrombosis (TO-ACT) clinical trial. This study revealed that EVT combined with standard medical care did not improve functional outcomes for patients with severe CVT. Several risk screening scores have been developed to predict CVT prognosis, and some of these scales have been shown to perform adequately. The question of whether EVT is beneficial for patients with CVT, and to which subgroups of patients it should be offered, still remains unsettled. Large global research collaborations should be established to address current challenges and facilitate the execution of clinical trials.

Keywords

cerebral venous thrombosis / endovascular thrombectomy / risk screening tools / management