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Cerebral microbleeds: do they really predict macrobleeding?

Meike W Vernooij1

  • 1Department of Radiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 's-Gravendijkwal 230, Rotterdam 3015 CE, The Netherlands. m.vernooij@erasmusmc.nl

International Journal of Stroke : Official Journal of the International Stroke Society
|September 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Microbleeds are linked to major bleeding events in some patients. More research is needed in general populations to understand which individuals with microbleeds are at higher risk for macrobleeding.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Growing evidence links cerebral microbleeds to macrobleeding in specific patient groups.
  • Prospective data in unselected populations regarding this association are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between microbleeds and macrobleeding in unselected populations.
  • To identify factors contributing to the progression from microbleeds to symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage.

Main Methods:

  • The study design is prospective, focusing on unselected individuals.
  • Analysis considers the presence, location, and number of microbleeds.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of microbleeds is high, while symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage incidence is relatively low.
  • A specific subgroup of individuals with microbleeds may be at increased risk for macrobleeding.

Conclusions:

  • The severity and nature of underlying vascular pathology likely influence the risk of macrobleeding.
  • Future longitudinal studies should examine microbleed characteristics (location, number) in addition to presence.

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