[Medical Q&A] Do you know that there is a type of stroke called "venous stroke"?

Author: Gu Yaqin Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

Reviewer: Duan Jiangang, Chief Physician, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

Venous stroke, also known as intracranial venous thrombosis, refers to thrombosis of intracranial veins or venous sinuses caused by various causes, which obstructs blood return or cerebrospinal fluid circulation, leading to a type of cerebrovascular disease characterized by intracranial hypertension and venous infarction or hemorrhage.

The incidence of venous stroke accounts for 0.5% to 1.0% of the total number of strokes. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of clinicians' understanding of venous stroke and the development of diagnostic technology, the incidence of venous stroke has gradually increased and is not uncommon in clinical practice. Unlike common arterial stroke, venous stroke can occur in any age group, among which young and middle-aged patients are more common, especially in women of childbearing age during pregnancy, postpartum period and oral contraceptives. The incidence of venous stroke is higher. Venous stroke may cause atypical symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, epilepsy, hemiplegia, etc., which are easily ignored or misdiagnosed and mistreated, resulting in disability or even death of patients. In clinical practice, venous stroke is not uncommon and should not be ignored!