Clinicoradiological Features and Long-term Cognitive and Functional Outcome in Patients with Deep Cerebral Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Deep cerebral venous thrombosis (DCVT) can have long-term functional and cognitive sequelae.

Although literature exists on cognitive impairment after arterial stroke, cognitive sequelae after cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) are much less studied.

METHODS: Clinical records of 29 patients diagnosed with DCVT were reviewed.

The Modified Telephonic Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M) was adapted and validated in the regional language (Kannada) and applied to 18 patients with DCVT, at a mean follow-up duration of 5.32 years.

Screening for depression was done via telephonic Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)-Kannada version, and functional status was screened by applying the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

RESULTS: DCVT had a mortality rate of 10.34% due to acute complications.

mRS scores of 0–1 were achieved at follow-up in all patients who survived.

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed a cutoff of ≤44.5 (maximum score of 49) for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment via TICS-M (Kannada version) in DCVT patients.

Evidence of cognitive dysfunction was seen in eight patients (42.10%), and three patients (16.66%) had evidence of depression.

CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of acute DCVT can potentially have long-term cognitive sequelae.

Screening for cognitive dysfunction, depression, and functional status can be effectively done using telephonically applied scales that are adapted to the local language.

Neuropsychological evaluation and early cognitive rehabilitation can be initiated for patients in whom deficits are identified on cognitive screening.