Background
Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most devastating form of stroke. Location and
baseline hematoma volume are strong predictors of mortality. Expansion of the
initial hematoma is a further marker of poor prognosis. Several risk factors for
hematoma expansion (HE) have to be identified.
Objectives
The objectives of this study were to detect the incidence of HE and to study its
predictors.
Patients and methods
145 patients underwent this study by analyzing demographic factors and vascular
risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and oral anticoagulant intake,
as well as clinical factors using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
and radiological factors using computed tomography brain imaging.
Results
In this study, HE occurred in 55 (37.93%) patients. Expansion occurred in 45.45% of
hypertensive patients, 55.56% of oral anticoagulant intake patients, 45.83% of low
cholesterol level patients, 3.64% of diabetic patients, 85.71% of patients with high
NIHSS, 35.71% of patients older than 60 years, 20% of patients with atrial
fibrillation, and 22.2% of renal patients.
Conclusion
Warfarin intake, hypertension, low cholesterol, normal blood glucose, lack of blood
disease, and high NIHSS are the main predictors of HE.