Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage Research Articles

Medial intracranial carotid artery calcifications and hematoma expansion in deep intracerebral hemorrhage.

Medial intracranial carotid artery calcifications (ICAC) are associated with impaired vascular physiology, increased arterial stiffness and pulse pressure. Their presence might therefore be associated with increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) expansion, according to the avalanche model. We explored the association between ICAC presence and pattern and hematoma expansion (HE). Retrospective analysis of a monocentric, prospectively collected cohort of ICH patients admitted between June 2017 and October 2023. ICAC pattern was determined by Kockelkoren's rating scale on admission CT; medial ICAC were defined with a >6 points cutoff. A follow-up CT scan was performed within 72 h. HE was analyzed as a dichotomous (≥6 mL and/or ≥33%) and as a categorical (none/mild/moderate/severe) variable, and its predictors were explored with logistic and ordinal regression respectively, accounting for baseline volume, onset-to-CT time, and anticoagulation. All the analyses were stratified by ICH location (supratentorial deep vs lobar ICH). A total of 201 patients were included (median age 78, 42% females, 59% deep ICH). Medial ICAC were significantly more common in deep ICH with HE compared with non-expanders (72% vs 49%, p = 0.03), whereas there was no association between ICAC and HE in lobar ICH (53% vs 52%, p = 0.85). This association between medial ICAC and HE in deep ICH remained significant in logistic (aOR 3.11, 95% CI [1.19-9.06], p = 0.03) and ordinal regression (acOR 2.42, 95% CI [1.19-4.99], p = 0.01). Ipsilateral medial ICAC are associated with higher odds of HE in deep ICH. Our findings are best interpreted as hypothesis generating, requiring prospective validation and further research to characterize the underlying biological mechanisms.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Meta-Analysis of High-Quality Randomized Clinical Trials.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) poses high mortality and morbidity rates with limited evidence-based therapeutic approaches. We aimed to evaluate the current evidence for the role of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the management of ICH. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed recommended guidelines and protocols. Medline, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception up to April 12, 2024. The inclusion was restricted to randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of high quality, ensuring they were not deemed to have a high risk of bias in any of the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB2) domains. Primary outcomes were good functional outcome (modified Rankin scale, 0-3) and mortality beyond 90 days. Secondary outcomes were early mortality within 30 days and rebleeding rates. We pooled odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Fourteen high-quality RCTs were included. There were 3,027 patients with ICH (1,475 randomized to MIS, and 1,452 randomized to medical management or craniotomy). Of included patients, 1,899 (62.7%) were males. MIS resulted in higher odds of achieving long-term good functional outcome (OR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.25-1.82]), lower odds of long-term mortality (OR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.57-0.90]) and lower odds of early mortality (OR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.56-0.95]). Rebleeding rates were similar (OR, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.55-2.19]). The treatment effect of MIS was consistent across multiple sensitivity and subgroup analyses, including individuals with deep ICH. This meta-analysis provides high-quality clinical trial evidence supporting the use of MIS as a primary treatment strategy in the management of ICH. ANN NEUROL 2024.

Neuroendoscopic Parafascicular Evacuation of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage (NESICH Technique): A Multicenter Technical Experience with Preliminary Findings.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe manifestation of stroke, demonstrating notably elevated global mortality and morbidity. Thus far, effective therapeutic strategies for ICH have proven elusive. Currently, minimally invasive techniques are widely employed for ICH management, particularly using endoscopic hematoma evacuation in cases of deep ICH. Exploration of strategies to achieve meticulous surgery and diminish iatrogenic harm, especially to the corticospinal tract, with the objective of enhancing the neurological prognosis of patients, needs further efforts. We comprehensively collected detailed demographic, clinical, radiographic, surgical, and postoperative treatment and recovery data for patients who underwent endoscopic hematoma removal. This thorough inclusion of data intends to offer a comprehensive overview of our technical experience in this study. One hundred fifty-four eligible patients with deep supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent endoscopic hematoma removal were included in this study. The mean hematoma volume was 42ml, with 74 instances of left-sided hematoma and 80 cases of right-sided hematoma. The median Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at admission was 10 (range from 4 to 15), and the median time from symptom onset to surgery was 18 (range 2 to 96)h. The mean hematoma clearance rate was 89%. The rebleeding and mortality rates within 1 month after surgery were 3.2% and 7.8%, respectively. At the 6-month mark, the proportion of patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0-3 was 58.4%. Both the reduction of surgery-related injury and the protection of the residual corticospinal tract through endoscopic hematoma removal may potentially enhance neurological functional outcomes in patients with deepICH, warranting validation in a forthcoming multicenter clinical study.

Frontal sulcotomy through 3D printed illuminated endoport for minimally invasive evacuation of a deep-seated intracerebral hematoma - A case report.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage carries high mortality and disability rates and usually affects deep brain structures. We have implemented a self-designed low-cost 3D-printed illuminated endoport for the surgical drainage of a deep spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in a patient who arrived with right hemiparesis and a GCS score of 10. A minimally invasive approach was made and our patient had a favorable functional outcome after surgery. Carrying out this approach with a low-cost 3D-printed endoport makes it possible to offer a safe and efficient treatment option to a low-income country population.

Treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage: Dawn of a new era.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating disease, causing high rates of death, disability, and suffering across the world. For decades, its treatment has been shrouded by the lack of reliable evidence, and consequently, the presumption that an effective treatment is unlikely to be found. Neutral results arising from several major randomized controlled trials had established a negative spirit within and outside the stroke community. Frustration among researchers and a sense of nihilism in clinicians has created the general perception that patients presenting with ICH have a poor prognosis irrespective of them receiving any form of active management. All this changed in 2023 with the positive results on the primary outcome in randomized controlled trials showing treatment benefits for a hyperacute care bundle approach (INTERACT3), early minimal invasive hematoma evacuation (ENRICH), and use of factor Xa-inhibitor anticoagulation reversal with andexanet alfa (ANNEXa-I). These advances have now been extended in 2024 by confirmation that intensive blood pressure lowering initiated within the first few hours of the onset of symptoms can substantially improve outcome in ICH (INTERACT4) and that decompressive hemicraniectomy is a viable treatment strategy in patients with large deep ICH (SWITCH). This evidence will spearhead a change in the perception of ICH, to revolutionize the care of these patients to ultimately improve their outcomes. We review these and other recent developments in the hyperacute management of ICH. We summarize the results of randomized controlled trials and discuss related original research papers published in this issue of the International Journal of Stroke. These exciting advances demonstrate how we are now at the dawn of a new, exciting, and brighter era of ICH management.

Re-evaluating the role of decompressive craniectomy in severe deep intracerebral hemorrhage: insights from the SWITCH trial

Re-evaluating the role of decompressive craniectomy in severe deep intracerebral hemorrhage: insights from the SWITCH trial

Hypertension control after intracerebral hemorrhage among varying small vessel disease etiologies.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is attributable to cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), which includes cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and hypertensive-cSVD (HTN-cSVD). HTN-cSVD includes patients with strictly deep ICH/microbleeds and mixed location ICH/microbleeds, the latter representing a more severe form of HTN-cSVD. We test the hypothesis that more severe forms of HTN-cSVD are related to worse hypertension control in long-term follow-up after ICH. From consecutive non-traumatic ICH patients admitted to a tertiary care center, we classified the ICH as CAA, strictly deep ICH/microbleeds, and mixed-location ICH/microbleeds. CSVD burden was quantified using a validated MRI-based score (range: 0-6 points). We created a multivariable (linear mixed effects) model adjusting for age, sex, race, year of inclusion, hypertension, and antihypertensive medication usage to investigate the association of average systolic blood pressure (SBP) during follow-up with cSVD etiology/severity. 796 ICH survivors were followed for a median of 48.8months (IQR 41.5-60.4). CAA-related ICH survivors (n = 373) displayed a lower median SBP (138mmHg, IQR 133-142mmHg) compared to those of strictly deep ICH (n = 222, 141mmHg, IQR 136-143mmHg, p = 0.04), and mixed location ICH/microbleeds (n = 201, 142mmHg, IQR 135-144mmHg, p = 0.02). In the multivariable analysis, mixed location ICH/microbleeds (effect: + 3.8mmHg, SE: 1.3mmHg, p = 0.01) and increasing cSVD severity (+ 1.8mmHg per score point, SE: 0.8mmHg, p = 0.03) were associated with higher SBP in follow-up. CSVD severity and subtype predicts long-term hypertension control in ICH patients.

Decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment versus best medical treatment alone for spontaneous severe deep supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage: a randomised controlled clinical trial

It is unknown whether decompressive craniectomy improves clinical outcome for people with spontaneous severe deep intracerebral haemorrhage. The SWITCH trial aimed to assess whether decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment in these patients improves outcome at 6 months compared to best medical treatment alone. In this multicentre, randomised, open-label, assessor-blinded trial conducted in 42 stroke centres in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, adults (18-75 years) with a severe intracerebral haemorrhage involving the basal ganglia or thalamus were randomly assigned to receive either decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment or best medical treatment alone. The primary outcome was a score of 5-6 on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 180 days, analysed in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClincalTrials.gov, NCT02258919, and is completed. SWITCH had to be stopped early due to lack of funding. Between Oct 6, 2014, and April 4, 2023, 201 individuals were randomly assigned and 197 gave delayed informed consent (96 decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment, 101 best medical treatment). 63 (32%) were women and 134 (68%) men, the median age was 61 years (IQR 51-68), and the median haematoma volume 57 mL (IQR 44-74). 42 (44%) of 95 participants assigned to decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment and 55 (58%) assigned to best medical treatment alone had an mRS of 5-6 at 180 days (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 0·77, 95% CI 0·59 to 1·01, adjusted risk difference [aRD] -13%, 95% CI -26 to 0, p=0·057). In the per-protocol analysis, 36 (47%) of 77 participants in the decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment group and 44 (60%) of 73 in the best medical treatment alone group had an mRS of 5-6 (aRR 0·76, 95% CI 0·58 to 1·00, aRD -15%, 95% CI -28 to 0). Severe adverse events occurred in 42 (41%) of 103 participants receiving decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment and 41 (44%) of 94 receiving best medical treatment. SWITCH provides weak evidence that decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment might be superior to best medical treatment alone in people with severe deep intracerebral haemorrhage. The results do not apply to intracerebral haemorrhage in other locations, and survival is associated with severe disability in both groups. Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Heart Foundation, Inselspital Stiftung, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Nutrition markers and discharge outcome in deep and lobar intracerebral hemorrhage.

Malnutrition is common in stroke patients and has been associated with poor functional outcomes and increased mortality after stroke. Previous research on nutrition status and post-intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) outcomes, however, is limited and conflicting. Monocenter study of patients with spontaneous deep or lobar ICH from a longitudinal cohort enrolling consecutive patients between 1994 and 2022. Nutrition status was assessed using admission body mass index (BMI), albumin, total bilirubin, cholesterol, c-reactive protein, hemoglobin a1c, high-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein, mean corpuscular volume, alanine transaminase, and triglycerides. Main outcome was favorable discharge outcome (mRS 0-2). Multivariable logistic regression was conducted with adjustment for baseline differences. Among 2170 patients, 1152 had deep and 1018 had lobar ICH. Overweight BMI was associated with higher odds of favorable discharge outcome in all (aOR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.59-5.69, p = 0.001) and lobar (aOR = 3.26, 95% CI 1.32-8.08, p = 0.011) ICH after adjustment for baseline differences. This association did not reach statistical significance in deep (aOR = 2.77, 95% CI 0.99-7.72, p = 0.052) ICH. No lab values were associated with functional outcome in all, deep, or lobar ICH after adjustment. Overweight BMI was associated with favorable discharge status after ICH. These findings could inform future studies to determine whether overweight BMI has a protective effect in ICH patients.

Obesity and hypertension mediate the effect of education on deep intracerebral hemorrhage: A Mendelian randomization study

BackgroundEducational attainment (EA) as a stable indicator of socioeconomic status has been confirmed to affect intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but the mechanism relating EA and ICH is still unknown. AimTo explore the causal relationship between EA and ICH through a bidirectional and two-step Mendelian randomization (MR) study. MethodsUsing summary-level Genome-wide Association Study using GWAS data FROM CASES AND CONTROLS of European ancestry, we performed bidirectional and two-step MR analyses to explore the causal relationship between educational attainment and ICH to understand the mediating influence of risk factors in this process. We also carried out subgroup analysis according to the different sites (deep and lobar) of ICH. A set of sensitivity analyses were performed to test valid MR assumptions. ResultsBidirectional MR analysis consistently demonstrated a unidirectional causal effect, revealing that higher EA had a protective influence on ICH. Each additional 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in genetically predicted years of schooling was associated with a reduced risk of all ICH (inverse variance weighted (IVW) OR: 0.381 [95 %CI: 0.264–0.549]), deep ICH (OR: 0.334 [95 %CI: 0.216–0.517]), and lobar ICH (OR: 0.422 [95 %CI: 0.261–0.682]). The mediating effect of EA on all ICH was mediated via systolic blood pressure (SBP) (6.93 % [1.20–13.45 %]) and body mass index (BMI) (17.87 % [3.92–34.64 %]), and the mediating effect of EA on deep ICH was also mediated via SBP (7.85 % [1.55–15.07 %]) and BMI (18.63 % [4.02–36.26 %]). ConclusionThis study provides robust genetic evidence for supporting the protective effect of EA on ICH risk, with further evidence that the effect of EA on deep ICH is partially mediated through hypertension and obesity. Further validation is needed to ascertain whether these findings are applicable to other racial or general population groups.

Decompressive craniectomy for deep intracerebral haemorrhage: a SWITCH towards better outcomes?

Decompressive craniectomy for deep intracerebral haemorrhage: a SWITCH towards better outcomes?

Different Response to Blood Pressure Reduction in Lobar and Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage (P10-2.004)

Different Response to Blood Pressure Reduction in Lobar and Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage (P10-2.004)

Hypertensive Microangiopathy as the Cause of Deep Cerebellar Intracerebral Hemorrhage (P2-5.023)

Hypertensive Microangiopathy as the Cause of Deep Cerebellar Intracerebral Hemorrhage (P2-5.023)

Association between the surgical approach and prognosis of spontaneous supratentorial deep intracerebral hemorrhage

The association between surgical approach and prognosis in patients with spontaneous supratentorial deep intracerebral hemorrhage is unclear. We aimed to explore the association between surgical approach and prognosis in these patients. A retrospective cohort of 311 patients from 3 centers who were treated with surgery 24 h after ictus was recruited. The surgical procedure involved removing the intracerebral hematoma using an aspirator through either the cortical approach or Sylvian fissure approach, assisted by an endoscope or microscope. The primary outcome was the one-year modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. The association between the surgical approach and the one-year mRS score was explored by using ordinal logistic regression and binary logistic regression. Baseline characteristics were balanced by propensity score matching and inverse propensity score weighting. In the adjusted analysis, compared with the cortex approach group, the Sylvian fissure approach group had better one-year mRS scores when analyzed as an ordinal variable (3.00 [2.00–4.00] vs. 4.00 [3.00–5.00]; adjusted odds ratio, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.78–5.58; p < 0.001) and a dichotomous variable (74.14% vs. 49.01%; adjusted odds ratio, 6.61; 95% CI, 2.75–15.88; p < 0.001). Surgical approach was not significantly associated with rebleeding (p = 0.88) or three-month mortality (p = 0.81). In univariate analysis after propensity score matching, there were significant differences in one-year mRS score between the two groups (p < 0.001), and there were no significant differences in rebleeding (Fisher’s exact test, p > 0.999) or three-month mortality (Fisher's exact test, p > 0.999). Inverse probability weighted regression analysis showed better one-year mRS scores when analyzed as an ordinal variable (adjusted odds ratio, 3.03; 95% CI, 2.17–4.17; p < 0.001) and a dichotomous variable (adjusted odds ratio, 3.11; 95% CI, 2.16–4.77; p < 0.001) in the Sylvian fissure approach group; the surgical approach was not significantly associated with rebleeding (p = 0.50) or three-month mortality (p = 0.60). In the surgical treatment of patients with spontaneous supratentorial deep intracerebral hemorrhage, the Sylvian fissure approach may lead to a better functional outcome compared with the cortex approach. Future prospective studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

Swiss trial of decompressive craniectomy versus best medical treatment of spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage (SWITCH): an international, multicentre, randomised-controlled, two-arm, assessor-blinded trial.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is beneficial in people with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction. Whether DC improves outcome in spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is unknown. To determine whether DC without haematoma evacuation plus best medical treatment (BMT) in people with ICH decreases the risk of death or dependence at 6 months compared to BMT alone. SWITCH is an international, multicentre, randomised (1:1), two-arm, open-label, assessor-blinded trial. Key inclusion criteria are age ⩽75 years, stroke due to basal ganglia or thalamic ICH that may extend into cerebral lobes, ventricles or subarachnoid space, Glasgow coma scale of 8-13, NIHSS score of 10-30 and ICH volume of 30-100 mL. Randomisation must be performed <66 h after onset and DC <6 h after randomisation. Both groups will receive BMT. Participants randomised to the treatment group will receive DC of at least 12 cm in diameter according to institutional standards. A sample of 300 participants randomised 1:1 to DC plus BMT versus BMT alone provides over 85% power at a two-sided alpha-level of 0.05 to detect a relative risk reduction of 33% using a chi-squared test. The primary outcome is the composite of death or dependence, defined as modified Rankin scale score 5-6 at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include death, functional status, quality of life and complications at 180 days and 12 months. SWITCH will inform physicians about the outcomes of DC plus BMT in people with spontaneous deep ICH, compared to BMT alone. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02258919.

Abstract 149: Different Response to Blood Pressure Reduction in Lobar and Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background: Blood pressure (BP) reduction is associated with better neuroimaging and clinical outcomes in patients with spontaneous, non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Because this evidence comes from studies that overwhelmingly enrolled deep hemorrhages, the impact of BP reduction in patients with lobar ICH remains understudied. Methods: We re-analyzed data from the pivotal Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage-2 (ATACH-2) study. We included all patients with available neuroimaging data. Participants were randomized to either intensive (systolic BP target 110-139 mmHg) or standard (systolic BP target 140-179 mmHg) acute BP lowering. The main outcome measures were hematoma expansion &gt; 6 mL in the first 24 hours (HE), poor functional outcome (3-month mRS 4-6) and renal adverse events (RAE) until day 7 or hospital discharge. We fitted multivariable logistic regression models to test for association between the intervention and our outcomes of interest. Covariates included sex, age, race and ethnicity, and baseline ICH volume. Results: Among 1,000 patients enrolled in ATACH-2, 875 (87.5%) with complete data were included (88.9% deep hemorrhages and 11.1% lobar hemorrhages). The baseline characteristics of the intensive and standard treatment groups remained balanced as in the original study (all comparisons p &gt;0.05). Multivariable logistic regression showed that intensive BP reduction decreased the risk of HE (OR 0.60, 95%CI 0.39-0.90; p=0.02) and increased the risk of RAE (OR 2.53, 95%CI 1.40-4.77; p=0.003) in patients with deep, but not lobar ICH (HE, OR: 0.89; 95% CI= 0.31 - 2.52; p=0.83 and RAE, OR: 0.46; 95% CI= 0.04 - 5.10; p=0.53). Intensive BP reduction was not associated with improved mRS in either deep (OR: 0.96; 95 % CI= 0.68 - 1.37; p= 0.82) nor lobar (OR: 0.66; 95% CI= 0.16 - 2.42; p= 0.54) ICH. Conclusion: The impact of intensive blood pressure lowering differs in deep and lobar ICH. These results emphasize the need for a better understanding about biologic differences in ICH, which may have therapeutic implications.

Abstract TMP77: Oral Health as a Risk Factor for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis

Background: Poor oral health is a highly prevalent and modifiable risk factor that is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including ischemic stroke. However, the relationship between oral health and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has not been studied. We tested the hypothesis that genetically-determined poor oral health increases the risk of ICH. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study using summary statistics from the largest genome-wide associations studies of oral health and ICH conducted to date. As genetic instruments (e.g., genetic risk variants for oral health), we identified 105 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms known to be associated with higher risk of caries, dentures and missing teeth at genome wide levels (p&lt;5x10 -8 ). The primary analysis employed summary statistics-based MR to assess the relationship between poor oral health and risk of ICH in any brain location. Secondary analyses evaluated deep and lobar ICH separately. Results: The primary analysis using the inverse variance-weighted MR method showed that genetically-increased risk of poor oral health was associated with a higher risk of ICH (OR 2.34, [1.08-5.06], p=0.029). Secondary analyses indicated a more potent association with deep ICH (OR 3.20 [1.34-7.6], p=0.008), whereas the link with lobar ICH was not statistically significant (OR 1.32 [0.53-3.27], p=0.543). Sensitivity analyses detected no horizontal pleiotropy in our findings (MR-PRESSO global test p-values &gt;0.05). Conclusion: Genetically-determined poor oral health is associated with an increased risk of ICH, particularly in the case of deep ICH. Because gene-disease associations are less prone to confounding, our results suggest that this association is causal. However, further analyses are needed to validate these results and identify the mediating mechanisms. Because oral health is an easily modifiable process, it may be a promising target for very early interventions focused on mitigating the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Abstract TP158: Baseline Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays and Associations With Poor Long-Term Intracerebral Hemorrhage Outcomes

Introduction: Viscoelastic hemostatic assays can detect coagulopathy relevant for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients at risk for hematoma expansion. However, it is unclear whether these assays associate with long term ICH outcomes. We sought to assess whether baseline coagulopathy detectable via viscoelastic hemostatic assay associates with poor 6-month neurological outcomes after ICH. Methods: Spontaneous ICH patients enrolled in a single-center prospective observational study from 2013 to 2020 who received baseline viscoelastic hemostatic assay testing via Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) were included. Patients with prior anticoagulant use were excluded. ROTEM assessments of coagulation kinetics and clot strength were the primary exposure variables. Poor 6-month neurological outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 4-6. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed the relationships of ROTEM parameters with 6-month outcomes after adjusting for ICH score, hemoglobin, and sex. Results: Of 44 patients included for analysis, the mean age was 64, 57% were female, 52% had deep ICH, and the median ICH volume was 23.3 mL. Poor 6-month outcome was seen in 61%. We identified that slower coagulation kinetics was associated with poor 6-month outcome as assessed in both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways (EXTEM CFT: adjusted OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.12, p=0.02; INTEM CFT: adjusted OR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.10, p=0.05, respectively). Weaker clot strength was also associated with poor 6-month outcome (EXTEM MCF: adjusted OR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.59-0.93, p=0.03; INTEM MCF: adjusted OR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.68-0.97). We did not identify similar relationships using conventional coagulation assays (ie., PT/PTT/INR, platelet count). Conclusions: We identified that baseline impaired coagulation kinetics and weaker clot strength seen using ROTEM testing associate with poor 6-month ICH outcomes. Further work is needed to clarify the generalizability of these findings and the mechanisms driving these relationships to assess whether viscoelastic guided therapies can potentially be used to improve long-term ICH outcomes.

Abstract WMP81: Overweight Patients Had Higher Odds of Favorable Outcome After Both Deep and Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Introduction: Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) leads to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Malnutrition is common in stroke patients and leads to worse outcomes. Body mass index (BMI) is a widely available marker of nutrition status, however studies on BMI and post-ICH outcomes are limited and have conflicting results. We aim to clarify this relationship by examining the relationship between BMI, nutritional lab markers, ICH severity, and functional outcome at discharge stratified by ICH location. Methods: We leveraged data from an ongoing longitudinal ICH study of adults with spontaneous primary ICH. Patients were divided into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese according to World Health Organization BMI criteria. Albumin, B12, total bilirubin, cholesterol, CRP, ferritin, iron, folate, hbA1c, HDL, LDL, hemoglobin, MCV, INR, ALT, triglycerides, and vitamin D were abstracted from health records. Associations between BMI, lab markers, ICH volume, and favorable outcome (mRS 0-2) were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression stratified by deep versus lobar hemorrhage location, with normal weight as the reference. Results: 1,370 patients (719 with deep hemorrhage, 651 with lobar hemorrhage) were included. There was no association between BMI and ICH volume in patients with deep or lobar hemorrhage. Multivariable analyses adjusting for age, education, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, alcohol use, ICH volume, and intraventricular hemorrhage showed that overweight, but not underweight or obese, subjects had higher odds of favorable outcome on discharge in the deep (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.36-7.34) and lobar (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.67-5.94) groups. Albumin (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.05-4.90) and hemoglobin (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09-1.59) were the only labs associated with favorable outcome in the deep hemorrhage group while no markers were associated with favorable outcome in the lobar hemorrhage group. Albumin and hemoglobin were not associated with being overweight. Conclusion: Overweight patients had three times higher odds of favorable outcome after both deep and lobar hemorrhages. This was not driven by ICH severity or explained by lab markers. Future biomarker studies are needed to better understand this relationship.

Association of non-contrast CT markers with long-term functional outcome in deep intracerebral hemorrhage.

Hematoma expansion (HE) is the most important therapeutic target during acute care of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Imaging biomarkers such as non-contrast CT (NCCT) markers have been associated with increasing risk for HE. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of NCCT markers with functional long-term outcome and with HE in patients with deep (basal ganglia and thalamus) ICH who represent an important subgroup of patients at the highest risk for functional deterioration with HE due to the eloquence of the affected brain region. From our prospective institutional database, all patients maximally treated with deep ICH were included and retrospectively analyzed. NCCT markers were recorded at diagnostic imaging, ICH volume characteristics were volumetrically evaluated, and all patients received follow-up imaging within 0-48 h. We explored associations of NCCT makers with unfavorable functional outcome, defined as modified Rankin scale 4-6, after 12 months and with HE. Bias and confounding were addressed by multivariable regression modeling. In 322 patients with deep ICH, NCCT markers were distributed as follows: irregular shape: 69.6%, heterogenous density: 55.9%, hypodensities: 52.5%, island sign: 19.3%, black hole sign: 11.5%, and blend sign: 4.7%. Upon multivariable regression analyses, independent associations were documented with the functional outcome for irregular shape (aOR: 2.73, 95%CI: 1.42-5.22, p = 0.002), heterogenous density (aOR: 2.62, 95%CI: 1.40-4.90, p = 0.003) and island sign (aOR: 2.54, 95%CI: 1.05-6.14, p = 0.038), and with HE for heterogenous density (aOR: 5.01, 95%CI: 1.93-13.05, p = 0.001) and hypodensities (aOR: 3.75, 95%CI: 1.63-8.62, p = 0.002). NCCT markers are frequent in deep ICH patients and provide important clinical implications. Specifically, markers defined by diverging intra-hematomal densities provided associations with a 5-times higher risk for HE and a 2.5-times higher likelihood for unfavorable functional long-term outcome. Hence, these markers allow the identification of patients with deep ICH at high risk for clinical deterioration due to HE.