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Risk of Thromboembolism Following Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

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Abstract

Introduction

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most feared complication of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). While anticoagulated patients have increased severity of bleeding following ICH, they may also be at increased risk for thromboembolic events (TEs) given that they had been prescribed OAT prior to their ICH. We hypothesized that TEs are relatively common following ICH, and that anticoagulated patients are at higher risk for these complications.

Methods

Consecutive patients with primary ICH presenting to a tertiary care hospital from 1994 to 2006 were prospectively characterized and followed. Hospital records were retrospectively reviewed for clinically relevant in-hospital TEs and patients were prospectively followed for 90 day mortality.

Results

For 988 patients of whom 218 (22%) were on OAT at presentation, median hospital length of stay was 7 (IQR 4–13) days and 90-day mortality was 36%. TEs were diagnosed in 71 patients (7.2%) including pulmonary embolism (1.8%), deep venous thrombosis (1.1%), myocardial ischemia (1.6%), and cerebrovascular ischemia (3.0%). Mean time to event was 8.4 ± 7.0 days. Rates of TE were 5% among those with OAT-related ICH and 8% among those with non-OAT ICH (P = 0.2). After multivariable Cox regression, the only independent risk factor for developing a TE was external ventricular drain placement (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–4.1, P = 0.03). TEs had no effect on 90-day mortality (HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5–1.1, P = 0.1).

Conclusions

The incidence of TEs in an unselected ICH population was 7.2%. Patients with OAT-related ICH were not at increased risk of TEs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an unrestricted research grant from Novo Nordisk A/S, the Miles and Eleanor Shore 50th Anniversary Fellowship Award, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH 1 K23 NS42695, R01 NS04217), and the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation.

Disclosures

The sponsors had no role in the design or conduct of the study; data collection, management, analysis, or interpretation; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. Dr. Goldstein had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Dr. Rosand has received research support from NovoNordisk A/S. Dr. Goldstein has received consulting fees from Novo Nordisk A/S, CSL Behring, and Genentech. The remaining authors report no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Joshua N. Goldstein.

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Goldstein, J.N., Fazen, L.E., Wendell, L. et al. Risk of Thromboembolism Following Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care 10, 28–34 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-008-9134-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-008-9134-3

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