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Published on: April 23, 2021
Cerebral microbleeds are a risk factor for warfarin-related intracerebral hemorrhage
Seung-Hoon Lee1, Wi-Sun Ryu, Jae-Kyu Roh
1Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Cerebral microbleeds are known to be indicative of bleeding-prone microangiopathy and may predict incident intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In this study, we investigated whether microbleeds are associated with the incidence of warfarin-related ICH.
Methods:
Twenty-four patients with ICH while on outpatient treatment with warfarin were selected from a consecutive cohort. Control, warfarin-using subjects with no history of ICH were randomly selected during the same time period (n = 48). We compared demographic factors, vascular risk factors, laboratory findings, and radiologic findings including microbleeds between the groups.
Result:
There were more cases of patients with microbleeds in the ICH than control group (79.2% vs 22.9%: p < 0.001), and the number of microbleeds was much higher for the ICH group (9.0 +/- 26.8 vs 0.5 +/- 1.03: p < 0.001). Moreover, the number of microbleeds was significantly correlated with the presence of warfarin-related ICH (r = 0.299; p < 0.001). Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that increased prothrombin time and the presence of microbleeds were independently related to the incidence of warfarin-related ICH (microbleeds: adjusted OR, 83.12).
Conclusion:
This study suggests that underlying microbleeds are independently associated with an incidence of warfarin-related intracerebral hemorrhage. Future research should focus on elucidating the risks and benefits of warfarin medication in patients with microbleeds.
Insights
Cerebral microbleeds significantly increase the risk of warfarin-related intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Identifying microbleeds is crucial for assessing bleeding risk in patients taking warfarin.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Cerebral microbleeds indicate bleeding-prone microangiopathy.
- Microbleeds may predict incident intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between microbleeds and warfarin-related ICH incidence.
Main Methods:
- Compared 24 ICH patients on warfarin with 48 controls.
- Analyzed demographic, vascular, laboratory, and radiologic findings, including microbleeds.
Main Results:
- Microbleeds were more frequent (79.2% vs 22.9%) and numerous in the ICH group.
- Microbleed presence strongly correlated with warfarin-related ICH (adjusted OR, 83.12).
- Increased prothrombin time and microbleeds were independent predictors of warfarin-related ICH.
Conclusions:
- Underlying microbleeds are independently associated with warfarin-related ICH.
- Further research is needed on warfarin use in patients with microbleeds.
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