Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare but life-threatening cerebrovascular disorder for which animal models are essential for mechanistic and translational research. This review systematically synthesizes experimental CVST models across species and induction techniques using predefined criteria, including thrombus composition, reversibility, severity, reproducibility, technical feasibility, and clinical relevance. The successful establishment of CVST models is defined by direct evidence of sinus occlusion, with parenchymal lesions considered optional. Thrombosis induced by FeCl₃ or photochemical methods is generally reversible, whereas models based on permanent ligation, autologous clot injection, balloon catheter combined with thrombin, or water-swellable rubber result in irreversible occlusion. Most models induce mild pathology, while severe phenotypes usually require combined interventions such as balloon catheter inflation with thrombin, complete ligation with thrombin, or partial ligation with thrombin injection and FeCl₃ application. Ligation-only models exhibit low reproducibility, whereas photochemical and balloon catheter-based models are limited by specialized equipment and technical expertise requirements. In terms of translational relevance, large-animal balloon catheter models combined with thrombogenic agents and rodent clot-injection models are most clinically applicable. Thrombolysis or recanalization studies should preferentially employ reversible models while avoiding permanent ligation or rigid occlusive devices. Water-swellable rubber-based models are particularly suitable for studying slowly progressive forms of CVST. Intravascular device validation studies should prioritize swine models using balloon catheters in combination with thrombogenic agents. In addition, developing etiology-specific models may facilitate the preclinical evaluation of targeted, mechanism-based therapeutic approaches, while non-human primate models may further enhance translational relevance.
Li et al. (Tue,) studied this question.