Intracerebral Hemorrhage Associated With Oral Anticoagulant Therapy

Abstract

Background and Purpose-Life-threatening intracranial hemorrhage, predominantly intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), is the most serious complication of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT), with mortality in excess of 50%. Early intervention focuses on rapid correction of coagulopathy in order to prevent continued bleeding. Summary of Review-This article reviews the epidemiology of OAT-associated ICH (OAT-ICH), and current treatment options, with the aim of providing a framework for future studies of unresolved questions. A number of acute treatments are available, but all have a significant risk of inducing thrombosis and other side effects, and vary in their rapidity of effect: vitamin K (very slow response time), fresh frozen plasma (slow response time, large volume of fluid required, transfusion-related acute lung injury), prothrombin complex concentrates, and recombinant activated factor VII. Current practice is to administer a combination of vitamin K and either fresh frozen plasma or prothrombin complex concentrates; the occasional use of recombinant activated factor VII has been reported. No prospective study has addressed the efficacy of, or outcomes from, the use of these practices. Conclusions-Current management of OAT-ICH is varied and not based on evidence from randomized controlled trials.Well-designed clinical trials are essential if we are to identify the effective acute treatments for OAT-ICH that are urgently needed. (Stroke. 2006;37:256-262.)

Warfarin‐related intracerebral haemorrhage: better outcomes when reversal includes prothrombin complex concentrates

“…In the 15 of these patients who also received PCC, the dose of FFP was 1-2 units, as specified by the protocol (when given with PCC). However, in the remaining patients (FFP and vitamin K alone), doses of FFP were also small (median 2 units, range [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

“…Evidence for effective options to ameliorate these poor outcomes is lacking, and there is only modest consensus on the best acute management strategies. 1,5 Estimates of WRICH frequency vary between 6% and 24% of all intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH). 3,[5][6][7] Higher international normalised ratios (INR) have a higher risk of WRICH, but most WRICH occur at an INR within the target therapeutic range.…”

Antiplatelet Pretreatment does not Increase Hematoma Volume in Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage

“…with anticoagulation-associated ICH (Steiner et al, 2006). With regard to antiplatelet pretreatment, clinical studies revealed much more controversial results (Wijman, 2009).…”

Therapeutic Strategies in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

“…The observed increase is most likely due to the increased use of warfarin by patients with atrial fibrillation [58]. The use of warfarin at the time of ICH is associated with hematoma expansion [16,18] and increased mortality [15][16][17]59].…”