Prevalence of cerebral venous thrombosis with the use of oral contraceptive pills during the Holy month of Ramadan

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the epidemiologic profile of cerebral vein thrombosis)CVT(among fasting women using oral contraceptive pills)OCPs(during the holy month of Ramadan. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on all patients diagnosed with CVT and using OCPs from records at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during 2016-2017. The study participants were categorized into 2 groups)an intermittently fasting group during the holy month of Ramadan and a non-fasting group(. Results: Out of 108 female patients with CVT, 36.1% were secondary to OCP, of whom 41% participants were fasting. The most affected site was the transverse sinus. Holocephalic headache was more common amongst fasting group)68.8%(compared to non-fasting group)30.4%()p=0.025(. Dehydration)p=0.003(amongst the fasting group and protein S deficiency)p=0.027(in the non-fasting group were identified as the 2 prominent risk factors. Unfractionated heparin was the most common anticoagulant therapies used during the initiation phase for non-fasting)36.4%(and fasting groups)50%(. Conclusion: All women who are using OCP should undergo formal written risk assessments for factors of CVT. Our study suggests that the negative effects of OCPs use might outweigh its benefits; thus, it should be prescribed with caution, more so in fasting patients.