4-week headache after 60 pints of beer

Cortical venous thrombosis presenting with subarachnoid haemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Our study retrospectively reviewed the presentation, neuro-radiological findings, and outcomes of eight adult patients presenting at our institution with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), which was subsequently proven to be due to cortical venous thrombosis (CVT).

METHODS

We reviewed the case records and neuroimaging findings of eight patients diagnosed with SAH and CVT over a span of two years at our institution, a tertiary care centre in Western India. All details pertaining to their presentation, clinical findings, neuroimaging, management, and outcome following therapy with anticoagulants were collected until patient discharge.

RESULTS

There were a total of eight patients, with the average age being 34 years (range 25-42). Only one patient was female. Six patients had a history of recent binge drinking. None of the patients had a past or family history of common risk factors for thrombosis. All patients presented acutely, with headache (n=6) and seizures (n=6) being the most common presenting features, occurring in three-quarters of the patients examined. Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) was the initial imaging study for all but one of the patients and showed cortical SAH (cSAH) without basilar haemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance venography (MRI/MRV) confirmed the underlying CVT. Unfractionated heparin was used in all cases. Seven patients improved and were discharged on oral anticoagulation. The eighth patient died.

CONCLUSION

Localised cSAH with sparing of basal cisterns can be a presentation for CVT. In patients with cSAH, MRI/MRV can be useful to make a diagnosis of CVT. Anticoagulation for CVT, even in the presence of SAH was related to seven out of eight patients being discharged.

Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis associated with isopropanol ingestion in an infant

This report describes a 5-week-old female infant who presented with accidental ingestion of rubbing alcohol (which contains about 70% isopropanol), and was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. Isopropanol is a clear, volatile 3-carbon alcohol found in varying concentrations in many solvents. Mislabeled rubbing alcohol was mixed with this patient's formula. After ingesting it, she presented with a 1-day history of uncontrolled fussiness and an episode of deviation of the eyes to the right for 30 minutes, followed by rhythmic movements of the arms and legs for 20 minutes. Cerebral imaging demonstrated sinovenous thrombosis. To our knowledge, there have been no reports describing cerebral sinovenous thrombosis as a complication of isopropanol ingestion. The possible association of isopropanol ingestion and sinovenous thrombosis is discussed.