Lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. A clinical, radiographic, and pathological study of 29 consecutive operated cases with negative angiography

Resource utilization in management of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage without systemic risk factors. Does early surgical decompression matter?

BACKGROUND

Even though different subtypes of spontaneous ICH are frequently linked to a poor prognosis, their causes, pathological features, and prognoses vary. Atypical intracerebral hemorrhage is the subtype of spontaneous ICH that usually occurs due to an underlying localized vascular lesion. It is unrelated to systemic vascular risk factors, mostly affects children and young adults and is associated with a relatively good outcome. This fact should be considered when planning the evaluation and treatment. Investigating the cause of this subtype is fundamental to providing optimal management. However, if resources do not allow completing the investigations, the cause will be more difficult to discover. Treatment decisions will be made under stress to save the patient's life, especially with rapidly deteriorating patients.

METHODS

We described three cases of spontaneous ICH without systemic risk factors where the bleeding source could not be determined before surgery due to a lack of resources, preventing preoperative vascular investigation. Knowing that the atypical ICH has a distinct identity, regarding etiology and prognosis, encouraged the surgeons to resort to early surgical decompression as an alternative plan. We reviewed the literature searching for supporting evidence.

RESULTS

The results of treatment of the presented cases were satisfactory. The lack of reported similar cases was brought to light by a literature analysis that sought to provide backing for the proposed management strategy. In the end, we supplied two graphic organizers to help readers remember the different types and treatment of hemorrhagic stroke.

CONCLUSION

There isn't enough evidence to show that there are other ways to treat atypical intracerebral haemorrhage when resources are limited. The presented cases highlight the importance of decisionmaking in resource-constrained situations when patient outcomes can be improved.

Can novel CT-and MR-based neuroimaging biomarkers further improve the etiological diagnosis of lobar intra-cerebral hemorrhage?

Lobar hematomas represent around half of all supratentorial hemorrhages and have high mortality and morbidity. Their management depends on the underlying cause. Apart from local causes such as vascular malformation, which are rare and can usually be easily excluded thanks to imaging, the vast majority of lobar hematomas equally frequently result from either hypertensive arteriolopathy (HA) or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Distinguishing between CAA and HA is important for prognostication (risk of recurrence nearly sevenfold higher in the former), for decision-making regarding, e.g., antithrombotic therapies (for other indications) and for clinical trials of new therapies. Currently, a non-invasive diagnosis of probable CAA can be made using the MR-based modified Boston criteria, which have excellent specificity but moderate sensitivity against histopathological reference, leading to the clinically largely irrelevant diagnosis of "possible CAA". Furthermore, the Boston criteria cannot be applied when both lobar and deep MRI hemorrhagic markers are present, a not uncommon situation. Here we propose to test whether new CT and MR-based imaging biomarkers, namely finger-like projections of the hematoma and adjacent subarachnoid hemorrhage on acute-stage CT or MRI, and remote punctate diffusion-weighted imaging ischemic lesions on acute or subacute-stage MRI, have the potential to improve the performance of the Boston criteria. Furthermore, we also propose to test whether clinical-radiological biomarkers may also allow a positive diagnosis of HA to be made in lobar hematomas, which, if feasible, would not only further reduce the prevalence of "possible CAA" but also permit a diagnosis of HA and/or CAA to be made in the presence of mixed deep and lobar MRI hemorrhagic markers.

Underlying microangiopathy and functional outcome of simultaneous multiple intracerebral hemorrhage

Objective

To identify the predominant type of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and outcomes in patients with simultaneous multiple intracerebral hemorrhages (SMICH).

Methods

Consecutive patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from a single-center prospective cohort were retrospectively reviewed. Presumed etiology was classified according to the SMASH-U criteria. Demographics, clinical and laboratory variables, and neuroimaging data were compared between patients with primary SMICH and those with single ICH. Functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin scale 90 days after ICH.

Results

Of the 598 enrolled patients, 37 (6.2%) met the criteria for SMICH. Risk factors for SMICH included a high burden of deep cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.12; p = 0.040), white matter hyperintensity scores (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04–1.57; p = 0.021), history of ICH (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.31–8.05; p = 0.008), and low serum magnesium levels (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00–0.25; p = 0.007). Based on the SMASH-U classification, 15(40.5%) SMICH were classified as hypertension, whereas 17 (45.9%) as undetermined-etiology. To further explore the potential microangiopathy underlying undetermined-SMICH, these patients with undetermined-etiology were compared to those with cerebral amyloid angiopathy-ICH, and were associated with a higher burden of deep CMBs but less severe centrum semiovale enlarged perivascular spaces. Likewise, compared with hypertension-ICH patients, those with undetermined SMICH were consistently associated with a higher deep CMB counts. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that SMICH was independently associated with poor outcomes (OR 2.23, 95%CI 1.03–4.76; p = 0.038).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that most patients with primary SMICH harbor hypertensive-SVD as principal angiopathy. Patients with SMICH are at a high risk of poor outcomes. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 04803292).

Fatal ruptured occult arteriovenous malformation in a young adult: An autopsy case report

Background:

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital developmental disorders with unclear causative factors and pathogenic mechanisms. Various epigenetic factors may influence the development and rupture of AVMs. Ruptured AVMs may lead to poor outcomes. Therefore, the risk factors of AVM rupture and treatment strategies for unruptured AVMs should be explored. Herein, we report a case of a fatal ruptured AVM diagnosed by radiological and autopsy findings and review the literature regarding AVM treatment.

Case Description:

A 46-year-old man was brought to the hospital with sudden loss of consciousness while sitting on the edge of the bathtub. On examination, he was unconscious with poor breathing efforts. He was intubated and a brain CT scan was performed, which showed an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) adjacent to the right trigone with massive intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Contrast-enhanced CT scan showed abnormal vessels adjacent to the hematoma. He was diagnosed with ICH associated with IVH and SAH caused by a ruptured abnormal vascular lesion. He underwent external ventricular drainage to control the intracranial pressure. He remained unconscious and died 16 h after hospital admission. Autopsy was performed to identify the cause of ICH. Pathological sections showed a mass of blood vessels, measuring 20 × 10 × 10 mm in size, within the hematoma with a single drainer connecting to the transverse sinus. These blood vessels had variable size, shape, and wall thickness on microscopy. Some vessels had abnormal thickened walls with discontinuous elastic fibers. Based on the radiological and autopsy findings, an ICH secondary to SpetzlerMartin Grade I AVM was confirmed.

Conclusion:

If the cause of ICH cannot be determined during a patient’s life, autopsy may be performed to determine the pathophysiology of occult vascular lesions, including AVMs. Patients with AVMs may have moderate or no symptoms before and after rupture. Because deep AVMs fed by posterior circulation have high risk of bleeding, surgical intervention should be considered for these patients to prevent a poor outcome. Low-grade and paraventricular AVMs in a young adult may be successfully treated with multimodal surgery.

Influence of hypertension classification on hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage location

The authors sought to explore whether hypertension classification was risk factor for lobar and non‐lobar hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) and the prognosis in patients with hematoma. This retrospective cohort study was conducted on HICH patients admitted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Observations with first‐ever intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were recruited. The authors divided the brain image into three groups according to the location of ICH to predict whether there were significant differences between lobar and non‐lobar ICH. A Mann‐Whitney U test was used and this retrospective trial also compared the operation and mortality rates. Our cohort included 209 patients (73.7% male; median age:60.5±16.7). The overall incidence of lobar HICH was less than non‐lobar HICH (24.4% vs. 68.4%), 7.2% cases of mixed HICH was included in this analysis. In a Mann‐Whitney U test analyze, it indicated that there were significant differences in hypertension classification between lobar and non‐lobar HICH (Z = ‐3.3, p<.05). And the percentage of hematoma in lobar areas with relatively slightly high blood pressure (BP) (high normal and grade 1 hypertension) accounts for 52.9% versus 30.1% in non‐lobar areas. The increasing trends of the prevalent rate of lobar ICH with BP rising were not remarkable. The non‐lobar HICH showed a sharper increase in the condition of grade 3 hypertension compared with lobar HICH. During the period of research, the fatality of lobar hemorrhage was 2.9% versus 7.7% (non‐lobar). Besides, the fatality incidence of HICH with relatively slightly high BP (high normal and grade 1 hypertension) was lower than poorly controlled hypertensive patients (grade 2 and grade 3 hypertension). (8.0% vs. 15.7%). The increase of hypertension classification will aggravate the occurrence of non‐lobar ICH and positively corrected with BP, but not in lobar areas. It is essential to understand the distinction influence of hypertension classification between lobar and non‐lobar ICH.

MR-Imaging and Histopathological Diagnostic Work-Up of Patients with Spontaneous Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Results of an Institutional Prospective Registry Study

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a frequently disabling or fatal disease. The localization of ICH often allows an etiological association. However, in atypical/lobar ICH, the cause of bleeding is less obvious. Therefore, we present prospective histopathological and radiological studies which were conducted within the diagnostic workup to identify causes for lobar ICH other than hypertension. From 2016 to 2018, 198 patients with spontaneous, non-traumatic ICH requiring neurosurgical monitoring were enrolled in an institutional prospective patient registry. Patients with deep-seated ICH and/or hemorrhagically transformed cerebral infarcts were excluded from further analysis. Data to evaluate the source of bleeding based on histopathological and/or radiological workup were prospectively evaluated and analyzed. After applying the inclusion criteria and excluding patients with incomplete diagnostic workup, a total of 52 consecutive patients with lobar ICH were further analyzed. Macrovascular disease was detected in 14 patients with lobar ICH (27%). In 11 patients, diagnostic workup identified cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related ICH (21%). In addition, five patients with tumor-related ICH (10%) and six patients with ICH based on infectious pathologies (11%) were identified. In four patients, the cause of bleeding remained unknown despite extensive diagnostic workup (8%). The present prospective registry study demonstrates a higher probability to identify a cause of bleeding other than hypertension in patients with lobar ICH. Therefore, a thorough diagnostic work-up in patients with ICH is essential to accelerate treatment and further improve outcome or prevent rebleeding.

Charcot-Bouchard aneurysms revisited: clinicopathologic correlations

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hypertension and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) are the most common causes of primary ICH, but the mechanism of hemorrhage in both conditions is unclear. Although fibrinoid necrosis and Charcot-Bouchard aneurysms (CBAs) have been postulated to underlie vessel rupture in ICH, the role and significance of CBAs in ICH has been controversial. First described as the source of bleeding in hypertensive hemorrhage, they are also one of the CAA-associated microangiopathies along with fibrinoid necrosis, fibrosis and "lumen within a lumen appearance." We describe clinicopathologic findings of CBAs found in 12 patients out of over 2700 routine autopsies at a tertiary academic medical center. CBAs were rare and predominantly seen in elderly individuals, many of whom had multiple systemic and cerebrovascular comorbidities including hypertension, myocardial and cerebral infarcts, and CAA. Only one of the 12 subjects with CBAs had a large ICH, and the etiology underlying the hemorrhage was likely multifactorial. Two CBAs in the basal ganglia demonstrated associated microhemorrhages, while three demonstrated infarcts in the vicinity. CBAs may not be a significant cause of ICH but are a manifestation of severe cerebral small vessel disease including both hypertensive arteriopathy and CAA.

Location-specific risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting on risk factors according to location of the intracerebral hemorrhage.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and Embase for cohort and case-control studies reporting ≥100 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage that specified the location of the hematoma and reported associations with risk factors published until June 27, 2019. Two authors independently extracted data on risk factors. Estimates were pooled with the generic variance-based random-effects method.

RESULTS

After screening 10,013 articles, we included 42 studies totaling 26,174 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (9,141 lobar and 17,033 nonlobar). Risk factors for nonlobar intracerebral hemorrhage were hypertension (risk ratio [RR] 4.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.05-5.91, I ² = 92%), diabetes mellitus (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.11-1.64, I ² = 37%), male sex (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.25-2.14, I ² = 61%), alcohol overuse (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.21-1.81, I ² = 19%), underweight (RR 2.12, 95% CI 1.12-4.01, I ² = 31%), and being a Black (RR 2.83, 95% CI 1.02-7.84, I ² = 96%) or Hispanic (RR 2.95, 95% CI 1.69-5.14, I ² = 71%) participant compared with being a White participant. Hypertension, but not any of the other risk factors, was also a risk factor for lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.39-2.42, I ² = 76%). Smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity were associated with neither nonlobar nor lobar intracerebral hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension is a risk factor for both nonlobar and lobar intracerebral hemorrhage, although with double the effect for nonlobar intracerebral hemorrhage. Diabetes mellitus, male sex, alcohol overuse, underweight, and being a Black or Hispanic person are risk factors for nonlobar intracerebral hemorrhage only. Hence, the term hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage for nonlobar intracerebral hemorrhage is not appropriate.

Interval angioarchitectural evolution of brain arteriovenous malformations following rupture

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to describe changes in the angioarchitecture of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) between acute and delayed cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA) obtained after hemorrhage, and to examine bAVM characteristics predicting change.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of a prospective institutional bAVM database. The authors included all patients with ruptured bAVMs who had DSA in both acute and delayed phases, with no interval treatment of their bAVM, between January 2000 and April 2017. The authors evaluated the existence or absence of angioarchitectural changes. Demographic data, radiological characteristics of hemorrhages, and angioarchitectural features of the bAVMs of the two patients’ groups were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were performed to identify predictors of angioarchitectural change.

RESULTS

A total of 42 patients were included in the series. Seventeen (40.5%) patients had angioarchitectural changes including bAVM only visible on the delayed DSA study (n = 8), spontaneous thrombosis of the AVM (n = 3), or alteration of the size or the opacification of the nidus (n = 6). The factors associated with angioarchitectural changes were a small nidus (3.8 ± 7.9 ml vs 6.1 ± 9.5 ml, p = 0.046), a superficial location (94.1% vs 5.9%, p = 0.016), and a single superficial draining vein (58.8% vs 24.0%, p = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

Angioarchitectural changes can be seen in 40% of ruptured bAVMs between the acute- and delayed-phase DSA. A small nidus, a superficial location, and a single superficial draining vein were statistically associated with the occurrence of angioarchitectural changes. These changes included either enlargement or spontaneous occlusion of the bAVM, as well as subsequent diagnosis of a bAVM following an initial negative DSA study.

Imaging features of intracerebral hemorrhage with cerebral amyloid angiopathy: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

We sought to summarize Computed Tomography (CT)/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) features of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in published observational radio-pathological studies.

METHODS

In November 2016, two authors searched OVID Medline (1946-), Embase (1974-) and relevant bibliographies for studies of imaging features of lobar or cerebellar ICH with pathologically proven CAA ("CAA-associated ICH"). Two authors assessed studies' diagnostic test accuracy methodology and independently extracted data.

RESULTS

We identified 22 studies (21 cases series and one cross-sectional study with controls) of CT features in 297 adults, two cross-sectional studies of MRI features in 81 adults and one study which reported both CT and MRI features in 22 adults. Methods of CAA assessment varied, and rating of imaging features was not masked to pathology. The most frequently reported CT features of CAA-associated ICH in 21 case series were: subarachnoid extension (pooled proportion 82%, 95% CI 69-93%, I2 = 51%, 12 studies) and an irregular ICH border (64%, 95% CI 32-91%, I2 = 85%, five studies). CAA-associated ICH was more likely to be multiple on CT than non-CAA ICH in one cross-sectional study (CAA-associated ICH 7/41 vs. non-CAA ICH 0/42; χ2 = 7.8, p = 0.005). Superficial siderosis on MRI was present in 52% of CAA-associated ICH (95% CI 39-65%, I2 = 35%, 3 studies).

CONCLUSIONS

Subarachnoid extension and an irregular ICH border are common imaging features of CAA-associated ICH, but methodologically rigorous diagnostic test accuracy studies are required to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these features.

Intracerebral hemorrhage due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy after head injury: Report of a case and review of the literature

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is an important cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the elderly. A few case reports of CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage after head injury, usually following a fall, have been published. More rarely, it may occur in the setting of a traffic accident, with only four cases having been reported. We describe a case of CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage in an 88-year-old man injured in a road traffic accident. The patient died 14 h after the accident. Autopsy examination revealed a left frontoparietal hematoma and CAA of most of the small leptomeningeal and cortical arteries, as well as several capillaries, predominantly in the parietal and occipital lobes. Except for bruises in the frontal and zygomatic regions, elbow and forearm, to the left, there were no skull fractures or traumatic lesions in other parts of the body. We review the literature on CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage associated with head injury. CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage after head injury may occur due to a minor trauma, minor and severe falls, or in the setting of a traffic accident. However, even in this last condition, it seems to happen mostly in patients who had a mild to moderate head injury. These facts show that replacement of the contractile components of the arterial tunica media by amyloid renders the affected cerebral blood vessels more vulnerable to head injury associated with acceleration and deceleration, independently of the severity of the dynamic loading acting on the head.

Spontaneous Hemothorax Caused by Pulmonary Micro-Venous Hemangioma

Various etiologies of spontaneous hemothorax have been reported, though the cause remains unidentified in some patients despite an exploratory thoracotomy. We report on an 89-year-old man with spontaneous hemothorax resolved by partial resection of the lung using complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The histopathologic findings revealed a ruptured micro-venous hemangioma located just below the bleeding visceral pleura. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous hemothorax caused by a pulmonary micro-venous hemangioma.

A rule to identify patients who require magnetic resonance imaging after intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

A study performed in Hong Kong of catheter angiography after ICH found a high rate of structural lesions in patients 45 years of age or younger, without a history of hypertension, or with lobar hemorrhage. We hypothesized that a clinical decision rule based on these Hong Kong criteria would reliably identify patients who require MRI after ICH.

METHODS

We identified all patients admitted with ICH to our medical center during a 5-year period who underwent brain MRI. Patients were excluded if the history revealed an obvious cause of ICH. Two study neurologists independently adjudicated whether MRI revealed the cause of ICH. We devised a rule recommending MRI if patients met one or more Hong Kong criteria, and calculated the proportion of patients with diagnostic MRI studies who would have been identified by this rule. We also examined the performance of a modified rule using age ≤ 55 years.

RESULTS

The original Hong Kong rule applied to 102 of the 148 patients in our cohort (69%), and would have recommended MRI in 25 of 27 patients with diagnostic MRI studies (93%, 95% CI 76-99%). The modified rule applied to 110 patients (74%), and would have recommended MRI in all 27 patients with diagnostic MRI studies (100%, 95% CI 91-100%).

CONCLUSIONS

A rule based on simple clinical criteria may be useful for stratifying the yield of MRI after ICH. If validated in further studies, such a rule could reduce the number of unnecessary MRI studies after ICH, leading to more cost-effective care.

Paratrigonal choroid plexus papilloma presenting with satellite multiple supra- and infratentorial hemorrhages. Neuroanatomical basis and pathological hypothesis

INTRODUCTION

Choroid plexus papillomas (CPP) are rare tumors arising from the neuroepithelium of the choroid plexus.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case of a patient operated for a paratrigonal hemorrhagic WHO class I CPP presenting with multiple satellite supra- and infratentorial hemorrhages. Clinical presentation was characterized by sudden hemiparesis, speech impairment and consciousness deterioration; neuroradiological imaging showed a huge contrast-enhanced solid hemorrhagic left paratrigonal lesion along with others multifocal right occipital and vermian hemorrhages. The patient underwent urgent intervention for excision of the paratrigonal lesion, whose histological analysis led to the diagnosis of CPP. A few days later due to failure of conservative treatment of the satellite hemorrhages the patient underwent a second-time surgery for their evacuation; interestingly histological examination of the tissue probe did not reveal any neoplastic features confirming their sole hemorrhagic nature. Patient's conditions slowly improved despite severe neurological deficits, without any further tumor recurrence.

DISCUSSION

A thorough revision of the literature is provided including previous reported cases of spontaneous bleeding CPPs and other underlying causes that could lead to multifocal hemorrhages.

CONCLUSION

Due to the rarity of these events, this case remains still open to speculative hypotheses drawn to explain the neuroanatomical and pathogenetic basis behind this case report.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-associated intracerebral hemorrhage: pathology and management

Amyloid angiopathy-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) comprises 12%-15% of lobar ICH in the elderly. This growing population has an increasing incidence of thrombolysis-related hemorrhages, causing the management of hemorrhages associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) to take center stage. A concise reference assimilating the pathology and management of this clinical entity does not exist. Amyloid angiopathy-associated hemorrhages are most often solitary, but the natural history often progresses to include multifocal and recurrent hemorrhages. Compared with other causes of ICH, patients with CAA-associated hemorrhages have a lower mortality rate but an increased risk of recurrence. Unlike hypertensive arteriolar hemorrhages that occur in penetrating subcortical vessels, CAA-associated hemorrhages are superficial in location due to preferential involvement of vessels in the cerebral cortex and meninges. This feature makes CAA-associated hemorrhages easier to access surgically. In this paper, the authors discuss 3 postulates regarding the pathogenesis of amyloid hemorrhages, as well as the established clinicopathological classification of amyloid angiopathy and CAA-associated ICH. Common inheritance patterns of familial CAA with hemorrhagic strokes are discussed along with the role of genetic screening in relatives of patients with CAA. The radiological characteristics of CAA are described with specific attention to CAA-associated microhemorrhages. The detection of these microhemorrhages may have important clinical implications on the administration of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy in patients with probable CAA. Poor patient outcome in CAA-associated ICH is associated with dementia, increasing age, hematoma volume and location, initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, and intraventricular extension. The surgical management strategies for amyloid hemorrhages are discussed with a review of published surgical case series and their outcomes with a special attention to postoperative hemorrhage.

Total and differential leucocyte counts in relation to incidence of stroke subtypes and mortality: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Elevated levels of total leucocyte as well as leucocyte subtypes have been associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic disease. Atherosclerosis is an important cause of cerebral infarction, whereas its significance in intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is less clear. A small number of prospective studies have revealed the relationship between leucocyte counts and incident stroke, in particular incidence of stroke subtypes. We evaluated the associations between total leucocyte count (TLC) as well as leucocyte subtypes and the incidence of and mortality caused by different stroke subtypes.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Of 28 449 participants from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, 26 927 stroke-free subjects (mean age at screening, 58 ± 8 years) were included in a prospective cohort study. The screening period was between 1991 and 1996. Incidence of stroke, 1-year mortality and 1-month case-fatality rate (CFR) were assessed by linkage to local and national registers. Cox regression analysis was used to assess stroke risk and 1-year mortality, and 1-month CFR was assessed by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

During a follow-up period of 13.6 ± 3.3 years, 1515 participants had a first-ever stroke (cerebral infarction, n = 1314; ICH, n = 201). After adjustments for other risk factors, TLC and neutrophil count were significantly associated with increased incidence of cerebral infarction (hazards ratio (HR), 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-1.7 and 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5, respectively). There was an inverse association between elevated TLC and incident ICH (HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.4-0.99). No associations were found between leucocyte counts and mortality for either stroke subtype.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the relationships with inflammation for ischaemic stroke and ICH are different.

Angiographically visible and invisible arteriovenous malformation in the same patient

A pathologically confirmed angiographically visible and invisible arteriovenous malformation in the same patient is described. The potential clinical significance of these observations is detailed and discussed.

Nontraumatic cerebral hemorrhage in the young: a study of 107 cases

BACKGROUND

Reports on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the young are rare, and information on the cause and prognosis of ICH in this age-group is sparse.

METHODS

All cases of ICH admitted to three major hospitals in Saudi Arabia over a 15-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients aged between 6 months and 45 years at stroke onset were studied. Pooling of our data with those published from other centers was used for final analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred seven cases (69 male, 38 female), including 12 children younger than 10, were analyzed. The causes of hemorrhage were as follows: arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), 23%; systemic hypertension, 20%; blood dyscrasias, 16%; berry aneurysms, 8%; other causes, 7%. No cause was found in 26%. Sixty-two percent of the ICHs were lobar and 3% multiple. Early death rate was high (27%). Twelve percent of the patients were lost to follow-up, and only 26% returned to a state of complete autonomy.

CONCLUSION

The pooling of the causative data from our cases and the 253 others reported in the literature showed that even before 45 years of age systemic hypertension is the leading cause of ICH. It accounts for approximately 30% of the cases, with AVMs (20%) being next. The pooled overall early mortality rate is approximately 20%, and only one third of the patients return to independent living.

Early elective surgical exploration of spontaneous intracerebral hematomas of unknown origin

OBJECT

The management of non-life threatening spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage with no obvious medical etiology in patients and the lack of findings on images has not been clearly defined. In general, the current practice is to treat these patients conservatively and repeat studies to rule out a treatable cause 6 weeks to 3 months later; more often than not these repeated studies fail to reveal any findings, and the patient is treated conservatively. For years, the senior author (R.C.H.) has treated these patients with early surgical exploration. This study was undertaken prospectively to ascertain the frequency of positive findings during surgical exploration.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2007, the authors prospectively collected data from 9 cases (4 cerebellar, 4 lobar, and 1 caudate head) of unexplained intraparenchymal hemorrhages. The patient age ranged from 18 to 45 years (mean 31.2 years). All patients were normotensive, had no underlying medical problems explaining such a hemorrhage, and failed to exhibit findings on cerebral angiograms. Magnetic resonance images with contrast showed no abnormal vasculature or enhancement. Eight patients underwent elective surgical exploration in the subacute stage, and urgent decompression of the clot was necessary in 1.

RESULTS

In 7 (77.8%) of the 9 cases, histopathological examination revealed a cause for the hemorrhage (3 "cryptic" arteriovenous malformations, 3 cavernomas, and 1 neoplasm). A good outcome was achieved in all 8 patients who underwent elective surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors recommend elective surgical exploration of intracerebral hematomas of unknown etiology provided that the hematoma is surgically accessible and the patient is relatively young and healthy. Early exploration and resection can provide a cure and eliminate the risk of rebleeding when a vascular lesion is found or guide further treatment in cases of tumor.

Hématome intracérébral spontané du sujet jeune

INTRODUCTION

Hemorrhagic stroke is uncommon in young patients. The etiologic spectrum is very wide in the literature. The purpose of this study was to determine the range of etiology in a group of patients completely investigated and to study the relation with a history of high blood pressure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed study database, clinical and diagnostic records of 130 patients identified in a population based study, aged 18 to 55 years presenting with hemorrhagic stroke. There were divided into two groups: 67 patients treated at Hotel-Dieu Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, and 63 patients reviewed at Yale New Haven Hospital, Connecticut, USA. Patients presenting with selective subarachnoidal or intraventricular hemorrhage were excluded. Diagnostic evaluation was assessed for completeness (based on prospectively articulated evidence based criteria) and for identifiable etiology of hemorrhagic stroke and its relation to high blood pressure.

RESULTS

There were 84 cases (64%) with complete diagnostic workup. The most common cause of incomplete investigations in remaining cases was death, poor neurological condition and incomplete follow up. Hematoma was superficially located (lobar) in 59.2%, deep seated (thalamo-capsulo-lenticular) in 26%, within the brain stem in 8.7% and cerebellar in 6.1%. An etiology was established in 70.4% of cases (pial AVM 16.7%, aneurysms 15.5%, hematological disorders 13%, cavernous malformations 10.7%, tumors 4.8%, bleeding within ischemic area 3.8%, vasculitis 2.3%, venous thrombosis 1.2% and venous angioma 1.2%. 29.6% of patients remained with undetermined etiology despite complete investigations. In a subgroup of 45 patients, a history of high blood pressure was found in 46.7%. In this cohort, an underlying etiology was established in 71% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Complete investigation can establish an etiology in 70% of young patients who survived hemorrhagic stroke, independently from the presence of a history of high blood pressure.

Study of clinical features of amyloid angiopathy hemorrhage and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to differentiate between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and hypertension (HTN) based on hemorrhage pattern interpretation.

METHODS

From June 1994 to Oct., 2000, 83 patients admitted to our service with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were investigated retrospectively; 41 patients with histologically proven diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiography and 42 patients with clear history of hypertension were investigated.

RESULTS

Patients with a CAA-related ICH were significantly older than patients with a HTN-related ICH (74.0 years vs 66.5 years, P < 0.05). There was a significantly higher number of hematomas > or = 30 ml in CAA (85.3%) when compared with HTN (59.5%). No basal ganglional hemorrhage was seen in CAA, but in 40.5% in HTN. In CAA-related ICH, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was seen in 26 patients (63.4%) compared to only 11 patients (26.2%) in HTN-related ICH. Intraventricular hemorrhage was seen in 24.4% in CAA, and in 26.2% in HTN. Typical features of CAA-related ICH included lobar distribution affecting mainly the lobar superficial areas, lobulated appearance, rupture into the subarachnoid space, and secondary IVH from the lobar hemorrhage. More specifically, multiplicity of hemorrhage, bilaterality, and repeated episodes also strongly suggest the diagnosis of CAA. Multiple hemorrhages, defined as 2 or more separate hematomas in multiple lobes, accounted for 17.1% in CAA-related ICH.

CONCLUSION

There are certain features in CAA on CT and MRI and in clinical settings. To some extent, these features may contribute to distinguishing CAA from HTN related ICH.

Intracerebral hematoma due to ruptured nontraumatic middle meningeal artery aneurysm--case report

A 77-year-old woman suddenly lost consciousness and presented with right hemiparesis. Computed tomography showed a large subcortical hematoma in her left frontal lobe associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The first impression was hemorrhage due to a ruptured aneurysm of the middle cerebral or the internal carotid artery on the left. Left internal carotid angiography showed no aneurysm or vascular anomaly, but back flow of contrast medium into the external carotid artery disclosed two saccular aneurysms arising from the anterior branch of the left middle meningeal artery (MMA). Emergent surgical intervention confirmed that the hematoma was due to ruptured MMA aneurysm. Nontraumatic MMA aneurysm should be recognized as a possible causative lesion of intracranial hemorrhage despite the extremely low incidence. External carotid angiography should be performed in patients with intracranial hemorrhage in whom no vascular cause can be detected in the internal carotid system.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related hemorrhage. Interaction of APOE epsilon2 with putative clinical risk factors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current evidence suggests that the apolipoprotein E (APOE for gene; apoE for protein) epsilon4 allele predisposes to cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) whereas epsilon2 is associated with CAA-related hemorrhage (CAAH). The clinical risk factors for other forms of intracranial hemorrhage are a less-frequent feature of CAAH. In this study we examined potential clinical risk factors in patients with CAAH and assessed these with respect to APOE genotype.

METHODS

Thirty-six patients were identified with a pathological diagnosis of CAAH. Clinical notes were reviewed to document age of hemorrhage onset, history of dementia, antiplatelet/anticoagulant medication, hypertension, minor head trauma, or transient neurological events. In a review of reported cases of CAAH, the frequency of these clinical features was also recorded. APOE genotypes were determined with use of polymerase chain reaction techniques.

RESULTS

There were 24 women and 12 men; the mean age was 70.3 years. One third (n=12) had been taking antiplatelet medication, and a similar number were demented. Nine patients were hypertensive, and 4 had a history of recent minor head trauma. The relative frequency of each of these clinical features was similar to that in previous reports. Forty-four percent (16 of 36) possessed an epsilon2 allele. Antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication, hypertension, or minor head trauma were significantly more frequent antecedents of CAAH in epsilon2 carriers than in non-epsilon2 carriers (81% versus 35%, P=0.008), antiplatelet/anticoagulant medication in particular (P=0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication, hypertension, or minor head trauma are most likely to precipitate cerebral hemorrhage in patients with CAA who are also epsilon2 carriers. This may result from isoform-specific effects of apoE on the structure of amyloid-laden blood vessel walls.

Intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral amyloid angiopathy: CT features with pathological correlation

AIMS

To review the computed tomography (CT) features of intracerebral haemorrhage pathologically proven to be associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy in order to facilitate recognition of the presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in life.

METHODS

We prospectively collected the clinical and brain imaging records of patients dying following an intracerebral haemorrhage who underwent a post-mortem examination and were found to have cerebral amyloid angiopathy. We reviewed the brain imaging to highlight features of the haemorrhage and of the rest of the brain common to these cases.

RESULTS

Seven patients aged 60-86 years were examined over a 30-month period. On CT, the notable features were that the haemorrhages appeared large, lobar, often extended through the cortex to the subarachnoid space or into the ventricles, and were multiple and recurrent in patients who survived the initial bleed. The high density (blood) within the haematoma tended to sediment posteriorly.

CONCLUSIONS

There are features on CT of cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage which should raise the possibility of this underlying diagnosis. We suspect this condition is under-recognized in life, and should perhaps be considered more widely.

Value of repeat angiography in patients with spontaneous subcortical hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Neuroradiological investigations do not disclose a source of bleeding in some patients with spontaneous subcortical hemorrhage. These patients may harbor undetected vascular malformations and may be at risk of rebleeding in the future. We investigated patients with subcortical hemorrhage with use of repeat angiography and MRI to determine the incidence of occult vascular malformations and the risk of bleeding during follow-up.

METHODS

We reviewed a consecutive series of 137 patients with subcortical hemorrhage during a 10-year period (June 1987 through June 1997). If the patient was <65 years old and the first angiogram and/or MRI did not show a source of bleeding, repeat angiography was recommended. All angiographic and MRI studies were reviewed. The relationship between the identified bleeding source and clinical variables such as patient age, sex, and history of hypertension and the size and location of the hematoma were examined.

RESULTS

One hundred seven patients (78%) underwent angiography on admission, 10 (7%) had immediate surgery for hematoma without angiography, and 20 (15%) had neither angiography nor surgery. Overall, an etiology for the hemorrhage was found in 55 cases (40%). Vascular malformations were common in young patients without preexisting hypertension. A second angiogram was obtained in 22 patients, and 4 arteriovenous malformations were demonstrated. Rebleeding at the site of the initial hemorrhage was not observed after a mean follow-up of 68 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiography performed acutely after hemorrhage may not demonstrate vascular malformations. Consideration should be given to repeat angiography in patients who do not have a specific cause for hemorrhage.

Spontaneous intracranial hematomas: role of dynamic CT and angiography

Forty-five patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were studied prospectively by dynamic CT and cerebral angiography. The accuracy of dynamic CT in demonstrating the underlying vascular cause in ICH was evaluated. Dynamic CT correctly predicted 90% of aneurysms, 83% of AVMs and 100% of normal studies as compared to angiography. Cerebral angiography can be obviated in patients where dynamic CT does not show any obvious vascular anomaly.

Microvasculopathy is associated with the number of cerebrovascular lesions in hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, Dutch type

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Microvascular changes such as microaneurysms and fibrinoid necrosis have been found in the presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). These CAA-associated microvasculopathies (CAA-AM) may contribute to the development of CAA-associated hemorrhages and/or infarcts, hereafter referred to as "cerebrovascular lesions." Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, Dutch type (HCHWA-D) is an autosomal dominant form of CAA, in which the amyloid angiopathy is pathologically and biochemically similar to sporadic CAA associated with aging and Alzheimer disease. To determine the significance of CAA-AM for CAA-associated cerebrovascular complications, we investigated the association between CAA-AM and cerebrovascular lesions in HCHWA-D patients.

METHODS

In a previous autopsy study we semiquantitatively scored CAA-AM in 29 HCHWA-D patients. In the present study we reviewed clinical charts and autopsy protocols of these same patients. We investigated whether CAA-AM was associated with age at death, number of cerebrovascular lesions, duration of clinical illness, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.

RESULTS

An association was found between CAA-AM and the number of cerebrovascular lesions (P = 0.009). The presence of microaneurysmal degeneration was most strongly associated with the number of cerebrovascular lesions (P < 0.001). In addition, we found an association between atherosclerosis and the CAA-AM score (P = 0.047). Hypertension was not associated with CAA-AM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support previous reports suggesting an important role of secondary microvascular degenerative changes in CAA-associated cerebrovascular lesions and suggest an aggravating effect of systemic atherosclerosis, but not hypertension, on the evolution of CAA-AM. These findings may be of relevance to understanding cerebrovascular complications of sporadic or Alzheimer disease-associated CAA.

Intracranial hemorrhage: diagnosis and emergency management

Intracranial hemorrhages are an important cause of acute neurologic disease presenting in the emergency setting. To optimize outcome, it is important that the physician quickly recognize intracranial hemorrhages. To minimize mortality and neurologic morbidity, it is often necessary to initiate urgent therapy in the emergency rooms and to obtain neurosurgical consultation in order to pursue early surgical therapy. This article discusses the recognition and early treatment of the various types of intracranial hemorrhages.

Non-traumatic cerebral hemorrhage in Saudi Arabs: a hospital-based study of 243 cases

This is a retrospective study involving 243 Saudi Arabs with non-traumatic cerebral hemorrhages confirmed by CT scan. Intracerebral hemorrhages accounted for about 20% of all strokes in this population. THe male to female ratio was 2.74 which is slightly higher than those reported from elsewhere. Peak frequency was around 60 years. Hypertension was the most common cause accounting for 64% of the cases, hemopathies/coagulopathies for 10% and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) for 6%. THe cause was undetermined in 21% of patients. Amyloid angiopathy was probably underrepresented due to lack of autopsy correlation. The etiologies were, however, age-related with a clear predominance of AVMs and coagulation disorders before the age of 40 years. Hypertensive hemorrhages were located in the putamen in 46% of cases compared to 20% in non-hypertensive patients while 52% of non-hypertensive hemorrhages were lobar in location compared to 20.5% in hypertensives. Early mortality (19%) in our series was relatively low compared to reports from the industrialized world.

Clinical findings in patients with recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

The use of computerized tomography has led to the detection of second intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in some patients. There have, however, only been a few clinical studies of second ICH.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with a second ICH were analyzed according to clinical criteria. These patients comprised 5.9% of all patients admitted to Chugoku Rosai Hospital for ICH between 1984 and 1992.

RESULTS

The mean interval between the first and second ICH was 27.7 months (range 1-144). The incidence of second hemorrhage was especially high within the first year after the initial ICH. Twelve patients bled bilaterally into the basal ganglia or thalamus during either the first or second attack. Most of these patients had poor outcomes and prognoses. The nine patients with good prognoses included patients with high activity of daily living (ADL) prior to the second attack, and those with neurologic grade 1 following the second attack. All of these patients were managed with conservative therapy. The 10 patients who underwent surgery had poor prognoses.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of second ICHs is greater than that of initial ICHs. Many patients who experience a second ICH will have a poor prognosis, possibly worse than expected. Surgical therapy should not be recommended in such patients, since our data suggest that they will not do well even after surgery.

Surgical experience with massive lobar haemorrhage caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Nineteen patients with massive lobar haemorrhage without angiographic lesions received direct or stereotactic surgery, and biopsy specimens were examined histologically. Ten patients (53%) were found to have vessels positive for Congo-red staining, and demonstrating amyloid angiopathy. In the patients with amyloid angiopathy, CT scan and surgical findings were investigated. Subarachnoid haemorrhage (9/10), irregularly shaped haematoma (9/10) and fluid-blood density level in the haematoma cavity (7/10) were frequently found on CT scan. The characteristic surgical findings in patients treated by direct surgery were subarachnoid haemorrhage adjacent to intracerebral haematoma (8/8) and the existence of a tangle of vessels in the haematoma cavity (4/8). Evacuation of haematomas was relatively easy, and difficulty of haemostasis was not encountered during surgery.

Spontaneous cerebral haemorrhage from cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Three cases of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage treated by acute evacuation of haematoma are described. All cases proved to have cerebral amyloid angiopathy as the primary cause of the haemorrhage. Only one patient survived. Previous reports are discussed.

Intracerebral hemorrhage after fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intracerebral hematoma may complicate treatment of acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with fibrinolytic agents. We studied the clinical presentation and computed tomographic characteristics.

METHODS

We studied eight patients with lobar intracerebral hematomas after fibrinolytic treatment of acute coronary occlusion. All patients had electrocardiographic and laboratory evidence of acute myocardial infarction and were treated with tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase followed by heparin infusion to prevent reocclusion. Computed tomography scans of 17 patients with cerebral hemorrhage from other causes were used for comparison.

RESULTS

For most patients, outcome was fatal within hours of the ictus. Computed tomography scans showed superficially large lobar hematomas in six patients. One patient had a putaminal hemorrhage, and one had a vermis hemorrhage. Multiple sites of intracerebral hemorrhage were noted in three patients. Fluid levels inside the hematoma suggesting continuing hemorrhage into multiple compartments were common. Radiologically, fluid levels in hematomas, multiple hematomas, and blood in multiple compartments served to differentiate fibrinolysis-induced hemorrhage from hemorrhage of other causes. Severe amyloid angiopathy was found in one patient who was operated on.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemorrhages in multiple compartments and the presence of fluid levels inside the hematoma suggest fibrinolysis-associated cerebral hematomas. Severe amyloid angiopathy may be a crucial factor in this clinical entity. Outcome is poor, and a high proportion of patients have rapid progression to brain death. Therefore, emergency neurosurgical evacuation will probably be unsuccessful.

Lobar hemorrhage in the elderly. The undiminishing importance of hypertension

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We sought to determine whether hypertension is less common in primary lobar hemorrhage than intracerebral hemorrhage in other locations and whether the frequency of hypertension in lobar hemorrhage diminishes with advancing age.

METHODS

We identified all cases of intracerebral hemorrhage in Greater Cincinnati during 1988 by review of hospital and autopsy records as well as computed tomographic and magnetic resonance scans.

RESULTS

During 1988, 66 primary lobar hemorrhages occurred, constituting 46% of all intracerebral hemorrhages in those under 75 years of age and 34% in those age 75 and older. A history of hypertension was present in 67% of patients with lobar, 73% of those with deep, 73% of those with cerebellar, and 78% of those with pontine hemorrhages. Left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 21% of patients with lobar, 27% of those with deep, and 47% of those with pontine/cerebellar hemorrhages. The frequency of hypertension in patients with lobar hemorrhage did not decrease with advancing age.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of all intracerebral hemorrhages that are lobar does not increase with advancing age. Hypertension is nearly as common in primary lobar hemorrhage as in deep, cerebellar, and pontine hemorrhages, and its importance as an associated condition for lobar hemorrhage does not diminish with advancing age.