Bevacizumab and Sinus Venous Thrombosis: A Literature Review

Cureus. 2021 Nov 11;13(11):e19471. doi: 10.7759/cureus.19471. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Pediatric glioma treatment can be confounded by eloquent anatomical location and pathologic and genetic characteristics. Current literature suggests that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor bevacizumab has been linked to enhancing disease control; however, its safety and effectiveness are unknown. Bevacizumab has been linked with an increased incidence of intratumoral hemorrhage as well as arterial and venous thromboembolism. A rare adverse effect of chemotherapeutic treatment with bevacizumab is sinus venous thrombosis (SVT), with only a few cases reported to date. This review highlights the pathophysiology of bevacizumab, its rare and life-threatening side effect of SVT, and future recommendations.

Keywords: bevacizumab; cerebral sinus venous thrombosis; glioma; neurology and critical care; pediatrics emergency; vegf inhibitor.

Publication types

  • Review