Location of intracerebral haemorrhage predicts haematoma expansion

The role of intracerebral haemorrhage location in haematoma expansion remains unclear. Our objective was to assess the effect of lobar versus non-lobar haemorrhage on haematoma expansion and clinical outcome.

We analysed data from the prospective PREDICT study where patients with intracerebral haemorrhage presenting to hospital under 6 h of symptom onset received baseline computed tomography (CT), CT angiogram, 24 h follow-up CT, and 90-day mRS. Intracerebral haemorrhage location was categorised as lobar versus non-lobar, and primary outcomes were significant haematoma expansion (>6 ml) and poor clinical outcome (mRS > 3). Multivariable regression was used to adjust for relevant covariates. The primary analysis population was divided by spot sign status and the effect of haemorrhage location was compared to haematoma expansion in exploratory post hoc analysis.

Among 302 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, lobar haemorrhage was associated with increased haematoma expansion >6 ml (p = 0.003), poor clinical outcome (p = 0.011) and mortality (p = 0.017). When adjusted for covariates, lobar haemorrhage independently predicted significant haematoma expansion (aOR 2.2 (95% CI: 1.1-4.3), p = 0.021) and poor clinical outcome (aOR 2.6 (95% CI: 1.2-5.6), p = 0.019). Post hoc analysis showed that patients who were spot sign negative had a higher degree of haematoma expansion with baseline lobar haemorrhage (lobar 26% versus deep 11%; p = 0.01). No significant associations were observed in spot-positive patients (lobar 52% versus deep 47%; p = 0.69).

Haematoma expansion is more likely to occur with lobar intracerebral haemorrhage and haemorrhage location is associated with poor clinical outcome. As expansion is a promising therapeutic target, hemorrhage location may be helpful for prognostication and as a selection tool in future ICH clinical trials.