The metabolic syndrome and the risk of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis: A case–control study

Abstract

Background & Objective: There is no data about the significance of the metabolic syndrome (MeS) for the development of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST). We investigated the association of metabolic syndrome in a consecutive series of patients with CVST.

Methods: This is a case–control study, where consecutive patients of CVST and control subjects were assessed for MeS according to the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. The prevalence of the MeS was compared between patients with CVST and controls.

Results: We enrolled 58 patients with a first episode of CVST and 129 controls. In univariate analysis, MeS was significantly more common in CVST patients than in controls [Patients 28 (48.3%), control 28 (21.7%); odds ratio (OR) 3.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.77, 6.53, p<0.001]. After adjustment for age and sex, we found OCP usage (OR 22.7; 95% CI 7.75, 66.66, p<0.001) and the MeS (OR 3.26; 95% CI 1.15, 9.25, p=0.02) to be independently associated with CVST. When coexistence of OCP usage and MeS was considered as a variant in univariate analysis comparing CVST patients and controls, we found association with CVST to be even higher (OR 47.6; 95% CI 5.91, 333.3, P< 0.001).

Conclusion: CVST is a disease with multiple risk factors and coexistence of MeS and OCP usage can potentiate the risk of CVST occurrence.