Study of Clinical Spectrum, Laboratory Parameters, and Radiological Patterns in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Cases Occurring at High Altitude

Abstract

Context: The risk of cerebral venous thrombosis at particular locations and its association with high altitude is yet to be established completely. The relation between high altitude and venous thromboembolic events has been debated for many years. Cerebral venous thrombosis presenting with nonspecific symptoms like headache can be a tough challenge for primary care physicians deployed at high altitudes. Materials and Methods: Combatants going to wide areas of mountainous territories at varying altitudes presenting with persistent severe headache associated with nausea and vomiting were subjected into the study after evaluation at zonal and tertiary care hospital. Results: Over a period of 18 months from October 2018 to March 2020, 75 cases of headache were screened and evaluated. Eighteen of these patients were diagnosed to have cerebral venous thrombosis. Conclusion: The occurrence of chronic venous thrombosis in combatants who enter and remain at high altitude for the prolonged duration is very common and the gold standard for diagnosis is a clinical evaluation with radio imaging.