
Rare form of stroke found to be very common
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association released a scientific statement that cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), a rare form of stroke, occurs more often than people thought.
Cerebral venous thrombosis affects veins instead of arteries. Clotting of the blood in the dural venous sinuses, which are responsible in draining blood from the brain toward the heart, causes this type of stroke. The statement appeared in the February 3 issue of Stroke and is endorsed by a numerous of organizations. Among these are the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons.
Pregnant women and those who are taking oral contraceptives are more susceptible to developing this illness. There are 2,500 to 10,000 cases of CVT among pregnant women and those who have just given birth, with up to 73 percent of the disease occurring after childbirth. It is during the third trimester of pregnancy and in the first month of after giving birth that the risk of developing CVT is greatest. People aged 45 and below are also at a greater risk of suffering cerebral venous thrombosis.
On the bright side, females who have suffered from the illness are unlikely to develop complications during future pregnancies.