Rocha et al reported the RCVS2 score for evaluating a patient for the Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS). The authors are from Massachusetts General Hospital, Universidade Federal de Sao Paula, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hacettepe University (Ankara).
Parameters:
(1) recurrent or single thunderclap headache (R)
(2) carotid artery, intracranial (C)
(3) vasoconstrictor trigger (V) such as vasoconstrictive drug or postpartum state
(4) sex (S)
(5) subarachnoid hemorrhage (S)
Parameter
Finding
Points
thunderclap headache
no
0
yes
5
carotid artery
not affected
0
affected
-2
vasoconstrictor trigger
absent
0
present
3
sex
male
0
female
1
subarachnoid hemorrhage
absent
0
present
1
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: -2
• maximum score: 10
• A score >= 5 is 99% specific and 90% sensitive for RCVS.
• A score <= 2 excludes RCVS and indicates another intracranial arteriopathy.
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