Abstract 3235: Low LDL is Associated with Hematoma Expansion in Chronic Daily Alcohol Users with Intracranial Hemorrhage

Abstract

Background: Prior studies have reported elevated blood pressure, platelet inhibition, and low LDL cholesterol in chronic daily alcohol users (CDA). Each of these has been shown to be associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) growth. We hypothesized that CDA patients with ICH and low LDL were at higher risk for ICH growth than CDA users with high LDL. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed on patients who presented to Tulane University from 7/1/08-12/31/10 with a spontaneous ICH. Patients who underwent hematoma evacuation were excluded. Clinical and demographic variables were abstracted. Hemorrhages volumes were calculated based on ABC/2 method. LDL was dichotomized into low (<100mg/dl) and high (≥100mg/dl) values. Comparisons were made using t-tests, Chi-square and non-parametric equivalents where appropriate. ICH growth in 24 hours and CDA use were evaluated using linear regression. Results: Of the 99 patients with spontaneous ICH, 25.3% were CDA users. No significant differences were observed when comparing baseline demographics of CDA users with LDL<100 and CDA users with LDL>=100 ( Table 1). Patients with low LDL had larger baseline ICH volumes (21.4 vs. 7.5, p=.03) and were more likely to experience ICH growth (87.5% vs. 57.1%, p=0.0002). Initial LDL was an independent predictor for 24 hour ICH growth. Every 10 points the initial LDL was below 100 predicted 1 cc of growth. LDL did not predict ICH growth in non-CDA users (p=0.9430). Discussion: Our data suggest that initial LDL level in chronic daily alcohol users can be used to predict ICH growth. The role of LDL in the importance of vessel fragility and clot stabilization needs to be further explored as this appears be important in patients who are chronic daily alcohol users.