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Location and outcome of anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage

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Abstract

Background

The characteristics of patients with anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (AAICH) have not been well characterized in a population-based setting.

Methods

We attempted to ascertain all patients with ICH in Greater Cincinnati from May 1998 to July 2001 and August 2002 to April 2003 via retrospective review of ICD-9 codes 430–438.9 at all area hospitals and prospective surveillance at tertiary centers. Cases of ICH without coagulopathy and AAICH were compared with multivariate logistic modeling and survival analysis.

Results

AAICH occurred in 190 of 1041 ICH cases (18%). In multivariate analysis, predictors of AAICH were cerebellar location of hemorrhage (p=0.01) and a history of coronary artery disease (p<0.001), ischemic stroke (p<0.001), atrial fibrillation (p<0.001) and DVT or PE (p<0.001). Relative to other ICH locations, only cerebellar ICH showed an excess risk of anticoagulant-associated hemorrhage (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.0). In multivariate modeling the only predictor of cerebellar location of ICH was anticoagulation (p<0.001). Patients with AAICH were more likely to die than other ICH patients. The difference in morality occurred by day one (mortality 33.2% vs 16.3%, p<0.001) and remained stable through one year (mortality 66.3% vs 50.3%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

AAICH preferentially affects the cerebellum. Despite its association with amyloid angiopathy, lobar ICH was no more likely to be anticoagulant-associated than deep cerebral ICH. The excess mortality among AAICH patients accures within one day of hemorrhage. Patients with AAICH have a high burden of vascular risk factors. New treatments for AAICH with prothrombotic potential should be evaluated in randomized controlled trials before routine use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, MSB Room 5161B, 45267-0525, Cincinnati, OH

    Matthew L. Flaherty MD, Mary Haverbusch, Brett M. Kissela, Dawn Kleindorfer, Charles J. Moomaw, Joseph P. Broderick & Daniel Woo

  2. Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

    Padmini Sekar

Authors
  1. Matthew L. Flaherty MD
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  2. Mary Haverbusch
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  3. Padmini Sekar
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  4. Brett M. Kissela
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  5. Dawn Kleindorfer
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  6. Charles J. Moomaw
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  7. Joseph P. Broderick
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  8. Daniel Woo
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Flaherty, M.L., Haverbusch, M., Sekar, P. et al. Location and outcome of anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care 5, 197–201 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1385/NCC:5:3:197

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