Cause Of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Research Articles

Expanding Diagnostic Workup for hypertensive Intracerebral hemorrhage: a retrospective LATAM cerebrovascular registry comparison.

The leading cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is hypertensive arteriolopathy. In addition to age and hypertension history, patients usually present other comorbidities that potentially increase morbimortality. Ancillary studies other than non-contrast computerized tomography (NCCT) may help clarify the diagnosis and increase the detection of potentially modifiable vascular risk factors. Unfortunately, their use is not routinely performed. The study aimed to determine the frequency of ancillary studies performed in patients with hypertensive ICH. We performed a retrospective analysis of three Latin American cerebrovascular registries from academic medical centers, analyzing the results with descriptive statistics focusing on diagnosis and short-term outcomes. We analyzed a total of 1,324 patients (mean age 64 years). Hypertension and obesity were the most prevalent risk factors. Only 14% underwent MRI, 10.3% extracranial ultrasonography, and 6.7% echocardiography. Among the three registries, the Latin America Stroke Registry performed more ancillary studies. Most of the patients presented a poor clinical outcome and in-hospital death. The use of ancillary studies in the diagnostic workup of ICH was poor in the three registries, and mortality was high. The lack of ancillary studies performed may negatively impact outcomes.

Risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage in small-vessel disease and non-small-vessel disease etiologies-an observational proof-of-concept study.

Sporadic cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD), i.e., hypertensive arteriopathy (HA) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), is the main cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Nevertheless, a substantial portion of ICH cases arises from non-CSVD etiologies, such as trauma, vascular malformations, and brain tumors. While studies compared HA- and CAA-related ICH, non-CSVD etiologies were excluded from these comparisons and are consequently underexamined with regard to additional factors contributing to increased bleeding risk beyond their main pathology. As a proof of concept, we conducted a retrospective observational study in 922 patients to compare HA, CAA, and non-CSVD-related ICH with regard to factors that are known to contribute to spontaneous ICH onset. Medical records (available for n = 861) were screened for demographics, antithrombotic medication, and vascular risk profile, and CSVD pathology was rated on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a subgroup of 185 patients. The severity of CSVD was assessed with a sum score ranging from 0 to 6, where a score of ≥2 was defined as advanced pathology. In 922 patients with ICH (median age of 71 years), HA and CAA caused the majority of cases (n = 670, 73%); non-CSVD etiologies made up the remaining quarter (n = 252, 27%). Individuals with HA- and CAA-related ICH exhibited a higher prevalence of predisposing factors than those with non-CSVD etiologies. This includes advanced age (median age: 71 vs. 75 vs. 63 years, p < 0.001), antithrombotic medication usage (33 vs. 37 vs. 19%, p < 0.001), prevalence of vascular risk factors (70 vs. 67 vs. 50%, p < 0.001), and advanced CSVD pathology on MRI (80 vs. 89 vs. 51%, p > 0.001). However, in particular, half of non-CSVD ICH patients were either aged over 60 years, presented with vascular risk factors, or had advanced CSVD on MRI. Risk factors for spontaneous ICH are less common in non-CSVD ICH etiologies than in HA- and CAA-related ICH, but are still frequent. Future studies should incorporate these factors, in addition to the main pathology, to stratify an individual's risk of bleeding.

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Risk of Isolated Nontraumatic Subdural Hemorrhage

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in older patients. Although other types of intracranial hemorrhage can occur in conjunction with CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage, the association between CAA and other subtypes of intracranial hemorrhage, particularly in the absence of intracerebral hemorrhage, remains poorly understood. To determine whether CAA is an independent risk factor for isolated nontraumatic subdural hemorrhage (SDH). A population-based cohort study was performed using a 2-stage analysis of prospectively collected data in the UK Biobank cohort (discovery phase, 2006-2022) and the All of Us Research Program cohort (replication phase, 2018-2022). Participants included those who contributed at least 1 year of data while they were older than 50 years, in accordance with the diagnostic criteria for CAA. Participants with prevalent intracranial hemorrhage were excluded. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to October 2023. A diagnosis of CAA, identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis code. The outcome was an isolated nontraumatic SDH, identified using ICD-10-CM codes. Two identical analyses were performed separately in the 2 cohorts. First, the risk of SDH in patients with and without CAA was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for demographic characteristics, cardiovascular comorbidities, and antithrombotic medication use. Second, multivariable logistic regression was used to study the association between CAA and SDH. The final analytical sample comprised 487 223 of the total 502 480 individuals in the UK Biobank cohort and 158 008 of the total 372 082 individuals in the All of Us cohort. Among the 487 223 participants in the discovery phase of the UK Biobank, the mean (SD) age was 56.5 (8.1) years, and 264 195 (54.2%) were female. There were 649 cases of incident SDH. Of the 126 participants diagnosed with CAA, 3 (2.4%) developed SDH. In adjusted Cox regression analyses, participants with CAA had an increased risk of having an SDH compared with those without CAA (hazard ratio [HR], 8.0; 95% CI, 2.6-24.8). Multivariable logistic regression analysis yielded higher odds of SDH among participants with CAA (odds ratio [OR], 7.6; 95% CI, 1.8-20.4). Among the 158 008 participants in the All of Us cohort, the mean (SD) age was 63.0 (9.5) years, and 89 639 (56.7%) were female. The findings were replicated in All of Us, in which 52 participants had CAA and 320 had an SDH. All of Us participants with CAA had an increased risk of having an SDH compared with those without CAA (HR, 4.9; 95% CI, 1.2-19.8). In adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis, CAA was associated with higher odds of SDH (OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 0.8-17.6). In 2 large, heterogeneous cohorts, CAA was associated with increased risk of SDH. These findings suggest that CAA may be a novel risk factor for isolated nontraumatic SDH.

Abstract 164: Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Is Associated With A Higher Risk Of Subdural Hemorrhage: Combined Analysis Of The Uk Biobank And All Of Us

Background: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a condition characterized by amyloid deposition in the brain’s blood vessels. CAA is a common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in older patients. Although other types of intracranial hemorrhages can occur in conjunction with CAA-related ICH, it is unknown whether CAA is a risk factor for other types of intracranial hemorrhage in the absence of ICH. Hypothesis: CAA is an independent risk factor for isolated non-traumatic subdural hemorrhage (SDH). Methods: We conducted a 2-stage (discovery and replication) observational study that retrospectively analyzed data from the UK Biobank (discovery phase) and the All of Us (replication phase) study. We included participants over 55 years of age to meet the age threshold for the modified Boston Criteria. The exposure was a diagnosis of CAA and the outcome was non-traumatic SDH, both identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. We used survival analyses with log-rank tests and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors. Results: The discovery phase included 283,452 UK Biobank participants comprising 123 CAA cases and 504 SDH cases. SDH subsequently occurred in 2.4% of participants with CAA versus 0.2% of those without CAA. In a multivariable Cox model, CAA was associated with a significantly increased risk of SDH (hazard ratio [HR], 7.3; 95% CI, 2.3-22.7). This finding was replicated among 168,370 study participants in All of US, where 66 had CAA and 443 had a SDH (HR, 11.66; 95% CI, 5.2-26.2). Conclusion: In two large heterogeneous cohorts conducted in different countries, CAA was independently associated with a higher risk of isolated non-traumatic SDH. Further research is needed to further determine causality and identify biological pathways that may mediate this association.

Intracranial infectious aneurysm caused by infective endocarditis resulting in intracerebral rebleeding following previous surgery for intracerebral hemorrhage: A case report and literature review.

Intracranial infectious aneurysm (IIA) is one of the most severe complications of infective endocarditis (IE). Approximately 2-9% of patients with IE have IIA, which possibly results in severe neurological deficits. Currently, the most common treatment for IIA is endovascular treatment, while excision surgery is less common. The present study describes the case of a 33-year-old male patient who underwent a primary evacuation of an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the right temporal lobe. The patient was diagnosed with IE and IIA by examinations with an enhanced computed tomography scan, echocardiography and blood culture. In the recovery period after surgery, the patient suffered intracerebral rebleeding and underwent a surgery of IIA excision. The patient finally achieved a good prognosis without severe neurological dysfunction. In summary, IIAs are extremely rare entities, and a rare cause of spontaneous ICH. Previous research has demonstrated that the majority of ruptured IIAs receive endovascular treatment rather than conventional surgery. In the case presented herein, IIA surgical excision was successfully performed and complete pathological results were obtained, which has rarely been reported in the literature. The present case report reinforces the validity of traditional craniotomy according to the characteristics of IIAs.

Comparison of clinical and neuroimaging features between NOTCH3 mutations and nongenetic spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.

The NOTCH3 mutation is a common cause of hereditary cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and may be a cause of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). The aim was to investigate the clinical/imaging features for identifying the NOTCH3-mutation-related ICH. The study was based on a cohort of 749 CSVD patients in Taiwan who received next-generation sequencing of CSVD genes including NOTCH3. Patients with a history of ICH (n=206) were included for analysis. The CSVD neuroimaging markers were compared between the patients with NOTCH3 and those without known genetic mutations. After excluding patients with other causes of ICH (structural lesions, systemic/medication related or amyloid angiopathy) and those without neuroimaging, 45 NOTCH3 mutation patients and 109 nongenetic ICH patients were included. The NOTCH3 mutation patients were more likely to have thalamic haemorrhage, a family history of stroke and more severe CSVD neuroimaging markers. A five-point NOTCH3-ICH score was constructed and consisted of a history of stroke in siblings, thalamic haemorrhage, any deep nuclei lacunae, any hippocampal cerebral microbleed (CMB) and a thalamic CMB &gt;5 (one point for each). A score ≥2 had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 64.2% in identifying the NOTCH3 mutation. The NOTCH3 mutation patients had a higher risk of recurrent stroke (9.1 vs. 4.5 per 100 person-years, log-rank p=0.03) during follow-up. The patients with NOTCH3-mutation-related ICH had a higher burden of CMBs in the hippocampus/thalamus and a higher recurrent stroke risk. The NOTCH3-ICH score may assist in identifying genetic causes of ICH.

Causes and Risk Factors of Pediatric Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage-A Systematic Review.

Previous studies suggest that the most common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in children and adolescents is arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). However, an update containing recently published data on pediatric spontaneous intracranial hemorrhages is lacking. The aim of this study is to systematically analyze the published data on the etiologies and risk factors of pediatric spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. This systematic review was performed in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A search in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library was conducted aiming for articles published in year 2000 and later, containing data on etiology and risk factors of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhages in unselected cohorts of patients aged between 1 month and 18 years. As a result, forty studies were eligible for data extraction and final analysis. These included 7931 children and adolescents with 4009 reported etiologies and risk factors. A marked variety of reported etiologies and risk factors among studies was observed. Vascular etiologies were the most frequently reported cause of pediatric spontaneous intracranial hemorrhages (n = 1727, 43.08% of all identified etiologies or risk factors), with AVMs being the most common vascular cause (n = 1226, 70.99% of all vascular causes). Hematological and systemic causes, brain tumors, intracranial infections and cardiac causes were less commonly encountered risk factors and etiologies.

Extra-repeat insertional mutation in the PRNP gene with cerebral amyloid angiopathy: A case report

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a major cause of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage and cognitive decline, has been documented in some forms of prion diseases (PrDs). Octapeptide Repeat Insertions (OPRIs) in the prion protein gene (PRNP) are mutations associated with genetic prion diseases (gPrDs). This is the first report of a patient with rapidly progressive dementia, carrying one OPRI in the PRNP gene and neuroimaging features consistent with CAA.

Associations of Clinical Characteristics and Etiology With Death in Hospitalized Chinese Children After Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics, etiology, and mortality risk factors in pediatric cases of non-traumatic spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.Methods: This study involved children between 29 days and 18 years old with confirmed spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage based on head CT or MRI at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Yuying Children's Hospital from January 2008 to March 2020. Demographic and clinical characteristics, etiology, imaging, and treatment data were collected at baseline. Potential risk factors of in-hospital death were identified using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression.Result: A total of 200 children (126 males, median age 5 years) were included in the study. Clinical symptoms of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage were typically non-specific (79.5%). One third of patients (31.1%) had a Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) ≤ 8, and nearly two-thirds (60.5%) showed a combination of ventricular hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Supratentorial hemorrhage was more common. Cerebrovascular disease (37.0%) and hematological disease (33.5%) were the most frequent etiologies of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Most patients (74.5%) received non-surgical treatment, while 25.5% received surgical treatment. After an average of 12 days of treatment, 167 children (83.5%) survived and 33 (16.5%) died. Multivariate logistic regression showed herniation syndrome, and low GCS (≤ 8) to be associated with increased risk of mortality, while hemorrhage due to arteriovenous malformation was associated with lower risk of mortality.Conclusion: Our data suggest that cerebrovascular disease is the most common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage among children, and that arteriovenous malformation is associated with lower risk of death in hospital. Conversely, the presence of herniation syndrome, low GCS (≤ 8) increase risk of in-hospital mortality. Our results underscore the importance of timely imaging and supplementary examinations in cases of suspected spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Understanding the Pathophysiology of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), one of the main types of cerebral small vessel disease, is a major cause of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage and an important contributor to cognitive decline in elderly patients. Despite the number of experimental in vitro studies and animal models, the pathophysiology of CAA is still largely unknown. Although several pathogenic mechanisms including an unbalance between production and clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein as well as ‘the prion hypothesis’ have been invoked as possible disease triggers, they do not explain completely the disease pathogenesis. This incomplete disease knowledge limits the implementation of treatments able to prevent or halt the clinical progression. The continuous increase of CAA patients makes imperative the development of suitable experimental in vitro or animal models to identify disease biomarkers and new pharmacological treatments that could be administered in the early disease stages to prevent irreversible changes and disease progression.

Discovering the Italian phenotype of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA): the SENECA project.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is one of the major types of cerebral small vessel disease, and a leading cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and cognitive decline in elderly patients. Although increasingly detected, a number of aspects including the pathophysiology, the clinical and neuroradiological phenotype, and the disease course are still under investigation. The incomplete knowledge of the disease limits the implementation of evidence-based guidelines on patient's clinical management and the development of treatments able to prevent or reduce disease progression. The SENECA (SEarchiNg biomarkErs of Cerebral Angiopathy) project is the first Italian multicenter cohort study aimed at better defining the disease natural history and identifying clinical and neuroradiological markers of disease progression. By a multidisciplinary approach and the collection of a large and well-phenotyped series and biorepository of CAA patients, the study is ultimately expected to improve the diagnosis and the knowledge of CAA pathophysiological mechanisms.

Advances in cerebral amyloid angiopathy imaging.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a cerebral small vessel disease caused by β -amyloid (Aβ) deposition at the leptomeningeal vessel walls. It is a common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and a frequent comorbidity in Alzheimer’s disease. The high recurrent hemorrhage rate in CAA makes it very important to recognize this disease to avoid potential harmful medication. Imaging studies play an important role in diagnosis and research of CAA. Conventional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods reveal anatomical alterations, and remains as the most reliable tool in identifying CAA according to modified Boston criteria. The vascular injuries of CAA result in both hemorrhagic and ischemic manifestations and related structural changes on MRI, including cerebral microbleeds, cortical superficial siderosis, white matter hyperintensity, MRI-visible perivascular spaces, and cortical microinfarcts. As imaging techniques advance, not only does the resolution of conventional imaging improve, but novel skills in functional and molecular imaging studies also enable in vivo analysis of vessel physiological changes and underlying pathology. These modern tools help in early detection of CAA and may potentially serve as sensitive outcome markers in future clinical trials. In this article, we reviewed past studies of CAA focusing on utilization of various conventional and novel imaging techniques in both research and clinical aspects.

Prevention of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

AbstractCerebral small vessel disease can cause either ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage. Accounting for up to 25% of all strokes, it is also the second biggest contributor to the risk of dementia, and is the most common incidentally discovered finding on brain imaging. There are two main causes of cerebral small vessel disease: arteriolosclerotic small vessel disease (with hypertension as the main modifiable risk factor) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (predominantly caused by β-amyloid deposits limited to the cerebral small arteries, arterioles, and capillaries). Prevention should include the treatment of hypertension and diabetes, if present, and the modification of lifestyle factors such as obesity and poor nutrition. Patients with small subcortical ischemic strokes should be treated with antithrombotics; dual antiplatelet therapy may be more effective than aspirin for the first 3 weeks following acute stroke, but is not more effective than aspirin for long-term prevention. Unresolved questions include the effectiveness of nonaspirin prevention strategies to prevent early recurrence or stroke extension in small subcortical ischemic stroke, and whether symptomatic or silent small vessel disease should influence decisions regarding selection for carotid revascularization or anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation. There is an unmet need for disease-modifying preventive therapies for cerebral amyloid angiopathy, the second most-common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Resistant Hypertension after Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage Is Associated with More Medical Interventions and Longer Hospital Stays without Affecting Outcome.

Hypertension (HTN) is the most common cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The aim of this study is to investigate the role of resistant HTN in patients with ICH. We conducted a retrospective study of all consecutive ICH admissions at our medical center from November 2013 to October 2015. The clinical features of patients with resistant HTN (requiring four or more antihypertensive agents to keep systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg) were compared with those with responsive HTN (requiring three or fewer agents). Of the 152 patients with hypertensive ICH, 48 (31.6%) had resistant HTN. Resistant HTN was independently associated with higher body mass index and proteinuria. Compared to the responsive group, patients with resistant HTN had higher initial blood pressures and greater requirement for ventilator support, hematoma evacuation, hypertonic saline therapy, and nicardipine infusion. Resistant HTN increases length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) (4.2 vs 2.1 days; p = 0.007) and in the hospital (11.5 vs 7.0 days; p = 0.003). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the rate of systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg and duration of nicardipine infusion were independently associated with LOS in the ICU. There was no significant difference in hematoma expansion and functional outcome at hospital discharge between the two groups. Resistant HTN in patients with ICH is associated with more medical interventions and longer LOS without effecting outcome at hospital discharge.

Abstract TP336: Characteristics and Outcome of Patients With Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage Who Overuse Alcohol

Background: Alcohol overuse (AO) is considered a cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but the clinical and outcome characteristics of these patients (AO+ICH) are not well known. Methods: All patients with ICH admitted from January 2005 to June 2015 to a single university tertiary stroke center were prospectively studied and followed up during 5 years. Demographic features, radiological characteristics, and clinical outcome of patients with acute ICH and previous heavy alcohol intake (&gt;40 gr/day or &gt;300 gr/week) were analyzed. Results: During the study period, 609 patients with ICH were admitted. Nineteen patients were excluded because data on alcohol intake was not available. At admission, 83 patients (13.6%) were identified with AO (22.7% of men vs 2.9% of women; p&lt; 0.0001) and was more frequent in younger patients (mean age, 63.11 years, compared to 72.7 years overall; p&lt; 0.0001). Smoking was associated with AO (63,9% vs 13,8% non-AO; p&lt; 0.0001) but not significant differences were found according with cardiovascular risk factors (dyslipidemia, diabetes and hypertension). ICH score was lower in the AO group (1.3 vs 1.8, p= 0.009) and deep ICH were more frequent (p= 0.036), compared to non-AO. Adjusted by sex, age, and high blood pressure, a trend in favor of increased deep ICH in AO patients remained (HR: 1.68 [95% CI: 0.92-3.05], p= 0.086). Adjusted mortality at 3-month, 12-month, and 5-year follow-up was similar in both groups. Conclusions: AO was present in 13.6% of ICH patients. These patients were an average of 11.5 years younger, predominantly men, and smokers, compared to the non-AO group. Adjusted short-term and long-term mortality was similar in AO and non-AO groups.

Current management of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is the most devastating and disabling type of stroke. Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) is the most common cause of spontaneous ICH. Recent advances in neuroimaging, organised stroke care,...

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: a transient ischaemic attack mimic

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a commonly occurring condition that is not familiar to most clinicians. A common presenting feature may be transient focal neurological symptoms leading to the potential for clinical misdiagnosis as transient ischaemic attack. This may result in the inappropriate use of anti-platelets and anticoagulants or radiological misdiagnosis. It is also being increasingly recognised as an important cause of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy can be diagnosed based on clinical and radiological findings, but clinicians need a high index of suspicion to ensure appropriate investigations are requested. In this article we aim to cover the pathophysiology, clinical findings, radiological appearances and approach to management of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Enlarged perivascular spaces as a marker of underlying arteriopathy in intracerebral haemorrhage: a multicentre MRI cohort study

Background and purposeSmall vessel disease (mainly hypertensive arteriopathy and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)) is an important cause of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), a devastating and still poorly understood stroke type....

The Outcomes of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Young Adults - A Clinical Study

ObjectiveSpontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in young adults is rare. The purpose of this study was to investigate causes, sites and other factors affecting the prognosis of ICH in young adults aged ≤ 40 years.MethodsWe reviewed 39 consecutive patients diagnosed with spontaneous ICH between January 2001 and June 2012. Patients with primary subarachnoid hemorrhage, previously diagnosed brain tumor bleeding, or vascular malformation were excluded. We analyzed the differences in prognostic factors such as hemorrhage location and vascular structural etiology. The outcome was measured using the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), and a good outcome was defined as a score of 4 or more.ResultsWe retrospectively evaluated 39 patients (mean age, 33 years; SD = 6.4, range 17 to 40 years). The most common structural etiology was arteriovenous malformation. A statistically significantly higher proportion of patients with good outcomes had a lower initial systolic blood pressure (SBP ≤ 160 mmHg, p = 0.036), a higher initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) (9 or more, p = 0.034), lower cholesterol levels (< 200 mg/dl, p = 0.036), and smoking history (at discharge, p = 0.008; 6 months after discharge, p = 0.019).ConclusionIn this study, cryptogenic ICH was the leading cause of spontaneous ICH. A GCS score of 9 or more on admission, a lower serum cholesterol level (< 200 mg/dl), and a lower SBP (< 160 mmHg) predicted a good outcome.

Hypertension and intracerebral hemorrhage in Brazzaville

Hypertension is not only an important risk factor, but also an important cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Its high prevalence in Africa reflects a high incidence of cerebral hemorrhage ranging from 30% to 60% against 10% to 20% in industrialized countries. The aim of our study was to determine the role of hypertension before the onset of intracerebral hemorrhage and its variations during the first three months. This was a longitudinal study conducted at the University Hospital of Brazzaville from 1st January to 31st August 2012 with all patients admitted for intracerebral hemorrhage. Patients with subarachnoid or pure intraventricular hemorrhage were excluded. The study variables were: history of hypertension, knowledge of its history, treatment, blood pressure on admission and during the first 3 months and the relationship between blood pressure and evolution. Statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSSS 16.1. The significance level was set at p pressure was obtained from the second week. After adjusting for confounders using logistic analysis, only uncontrolled hypertension was associated significantly and independently associated with a higher mortality rate (p = 0.042).