Skip to main content
Log in

Recurrent Perimesencephalic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage During Antithrombotic Therapy

  • Practical Pearl
  • Published:
Neurocritical Care Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

In patients with non-aneurysmal perimesencephalic hemorrhage, spontaneous rebleeding does not occur. The lack of reported recurrences may lead to less cautious administration of antithrombotic therapy.

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 57-year-old woman with a perimesencephalic pattern of hemorrhage and negative CT angiography was treated with carbasalate calcium and intravenous heparin because of an acute coronary syndrome. Three days after installment of this antithrombotic therapy she experienced a recurrent perimesencephalic hemorrhage leading to hydrocephalus and a decrease in consciousness. She died the same day as a result of ventricular fibrillation.

Conclusion

In the early phase after perimesencephalic hemorrhage, anticoagulant therapy may lead to rebleeding. The risks and benefits of antithrombotic therapy should be carefully weighed in patients with a perimesencephalic pattern of hemorrhage and negative CT angiography.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  1. Rinkel GJ, Wijdicks EF, Vermeulen M, et al. Nonaneurysmal perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage: CT and MR patterns that differ from aneurysmal rupture. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1991;12:829–34.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rinkel GJ, Wijdicks EF, Hasan D, et al. Outcome in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage and negative angiography according to pattern of haemorrhage on computed tomography. Lancet. 1991;338:964–8. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(91)91836-J.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Flaherty ML, Haverbusch M, Kissela B, et al. Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage: incidence, risk factors, and outcome. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2005;14:267–71. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2005.07.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Goergen SK, Barrie D, Sacharias N, Waugh JR. Perimesencephalic subarachnoid haemorrhage: negative angiography and favourable prognosis. Australas Radiol. 1993;37:156–60. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1673.1993.tb00040.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Greebe P, Rinkel GJ. Life expectancy after perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2007;38:1222–4. doi:10.1161/01.STR.0000260093.49693.7a.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Van Gijn J, Kerr RS, Rinkel GJ. Subarachnoid haemorrhage. Lancet. 2007;369:306–18. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60153-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Marquardt G, Niebauer T, Schick U, Lorenz R. Long term follow up after perimesencephalic subarachnoid haemorrhage. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2000;69:127–30. doi:10.1136/jnnp.69.1.127.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rinkel GJ, Velthuis BK. Long term follow up after perimesencephalic subarachnoid haemorrhage. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2001;70:419–20. doi:10.1136/jnnp.70.3.419a.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Juvela S. Aspirin and delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Neurosurg. 1995;82:945–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Toussaint LGIII, Friedman JA, Wijdicks EF, et al. Influence of aspirin on outcome following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Neurosurg. 2004;101:921–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rinkel GJ, Prins NE, Algra A. Outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in patients on anticoagulant treatment. Stroke. 1997;28:6–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. van der Schaaf IC, Velthuis BK, Gouw A, Rinkel GJ. Venous drainage in perimesencephalic hemorrhage. Stroke. 2004;35:1614–8. doi:10.1161/01.STR.0000131657.08655.ce.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Alen JF, Lagares A, Lobato RD, Gomez PA, Rivas JJ, Ramos A. Comparison between perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by posterior circulation aneurysms. J Neurosurg. 2003;98:529–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Velthuis BK, Rinkel GJ, Ramos LM, Witkamp TD, van Leeuwen MS. Perimesencephalic hemorrhage. Exclusion of vertebrobasilar aneurysms with CT angiography. Stroke. 1999;30:1103–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ruigrok YM, Rinkel GJ, Buskens E, Velthuis BK, van Gijn J. Perimesencephalic hemorrhage and CT angiography: a decision analysis. Stroke. 2000;31:2976–83.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ausman JI. Perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: what is it? what are we missing? Surg Neurol. 2002;57:211. doi:10.1016/S0090-3019(02)00634-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kershenovich A, Rappaport ZH, Maimon S. Brain computed tomography angiographic scans as the sole diagnostic examination for excluding aneurysms in patients with perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurosurgery. 2006;59:798–801. doi:10.1227/01.NEU.0000232724.19888.C6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Bart van der Worp.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van der Worp, H.B., Fonville, S., Ramos, L.M.P. et al. Recurrent Perimesencephalic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage During Antithrombotic Therapy. Neurocrit Care 10, 209–212 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-008-9160-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-008-9160-1

Keywords

Navigation