Risk Factors for Hemorrhagic and Cardioembolic Complications of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Associated with Anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage taking anticoagulants are increasingly common in Japan due to the aging population. The clinical benefit of restarting anticoagulants is established, but the optimal timing of resumption is controversial. Risk factors for hemorrhagic and cardioembolic events in the acute phase are also unknown. This study investigated hemorrhagic and cardioembolic events and risk factors in intracerebral hemorrhage patients taking anticoagulants.

METHODS: The clinical data of 65 consecutive intracerebral hemorrhage patients taking anticoagulants were retrospectively reviewed. Hemorrhagic and cardioembolic complications and risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS: Lobar hemorrhage was the most frequent (21 of 65 cases, 32.3%). At discharge, 31 patients (47.7%) showed severe disability or had died. Eight (18.6%) of 43 patients who restarted anticoagulants after initial treatment developed hemorrhagic events, including recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage in 3. HAS-BLED score was 2-3 in these 3 patients. Six (15.8%) of 38 patients who took anticoagulants for cardiogenic factors suffered cardioembolism. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome was significantly more common in the cardioembolic group (66.7%) compared with the noncardioembolic group (21.9%, P < .05). CHA2 DS2 -VASc score was paradoxically high in the noncardioembolic group (3 versus 5, P < .05).

CONCLUSION: HAS-BLED score and CHA2 DS2 -VASc score were not useful for risk assessment for hemorrhagic events, recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage, and cardioembolism in the acute phase. Inflammatory response might be important in the occurrence of cardioembolic events.