Clinical, etiological, radiological characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of 23 children with cerebral venous thrombosis in western Algeria.

Abstract

Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare condition in children, and its description remains limited in North Africa. The objective of our study was to describe the clinical, etiological, radiological, therapeutic, and evolutionary characteristics of children with CVT in western Algeria.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study involving children with CVT. The study was conducted at the unit of intensive care of Canastel Children's Hospital and the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Oran Hospital Center (Algeria) from January 2012 to December 2022.

Results: A total of 23 children were included in the study, with an average age of 48±57 months. The most frequent clinical signs were fever (61 %), altered consciousness (61 %), seizures (56.6 %), and headaches (36.8 %). The primary risk factors were head and neck infections (36.8 %). Thrombosis mainly affected the transverse sinus (65.2 %), followed by the superior sagittal sinus (39 %). Associated cerebral complications primarily included hemorrhagic lesions (52 %), hydrocephalus (26 %), and venous ischemic infarction (13 %). Overall, 21 % of children with CVT died while 34 % of our cohort had unfavorable outcomes. Predictors of an unfavorable outcome in multivariate analysis were , parenchymal hemorrhage (aOR: 16.04; 95 % CI: 1.28-201.5), and mechanical ventilation (aOR: 10.50; 95 % CI: 1.02-108.6).

Conclusion: Due to the nonspecific nature of CVT clinical signs and considering the risk factors, it is essential to perform cerebral imaging to confirm the diagnosis and initiate early and effective treatment aimed at reducing potential neurological sequelae and the risk of death.