January 30, 2024- A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association emphasizes the need to increase patients’ and physicians’ awareness of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) to improve the recognition of this condition and initiate prompt medical treatment. The new statement, Diagnosis and Management of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis, published in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s peer-reviewed journal Stroke. A scientific statement is an expert analysis of current research and may inform future clinical practice guidelines.
This statement reviewed the latest evidence to update the Association’s 2011 statement that outlines recommendations for diagnosing and managing CVT, focusing on advancements in treatment approaches, including anticoagulation (blood thinners), endovascular therapies (procedures using a catheter to reach the blood clot inside the vascular system) and surgery.