Cerebral venous thrombosis occurring during oxymetholone therapy

Abstract

Oxymetholone, an androgen analogue, is widely used in the treatment of Fanconi Aplastic Anemia (FAA). Androgen is known to cause cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). A 9-year-old girl under monitoring with a diagnosis of FAA presented to our hospital with severe headache. She had been receiving oxymetholone therapy for 1 year. Neurological examination was normal. Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis was detected at magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) of the brain. The thrombosis was thought to be oxymetholone-related, and oxymetholone therapy was discontinued. The patient was started on enoxoparin therapy and the symptoms resolved. Control images 4 months later were normal. We think that the risk of venous thrombosis must be considered with administering oxymetholone therapy in patients with FAA