DOI: 10.12890/2025_005754
Cerebral vein sinus thrombosis, an unusual complication of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors
samihoque@nhs.net
Keywords
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD)Abstract
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare but severe complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We present 4 cases (3 cases of ulcerative colitis, 1 of Crohn’s disease) with CVST over a 10-year period (2014–2024). Symptoms included confusion, headache, seizures, and focal deficits, often initially misdiagnosed. Diagnosis required computed tomography/magnetic resonance venography. Therapeutic anticoagulation and IBD control (steroids, biologics, or surgery) led to favourable outcomes in 3 cases. One patient required thrombectomy. Thrombophilia screening revealed protein C deficiency and JAK2 mutation in 2 cases. This series highlights CVST as a critical consideration in IBD patients with neurological symptoms. Physicians should pay attention in patients who have pre-existing risk factors and in acute flare of IBD are susceptible to this unusual complication, and advocate for prompt imaging and anticoagulation.
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