Evidence for apoptosis after intercerebral hemorrhage in rat striatum. (1/26)

The overall hypothesis that cell death after intracerebral hemorrhage is mediated in part by apoptotic mechanisms was tested. Intracerebral hemorrhage was induced in rats using stereotactic infusions of 0.5 U of collagenase (1-microL volume) into the striatum. After 24 hours, large numbers of TUNEL-positive stained cells with morphologies suggestive of apoptosis were present in the center and periphery of the hemorrhage. Double staining with Nissl and immunocytochemical labeling with antibodies against neuronal nuclei and glial fibrillary acidic protein suggested that these TUNEL-positive cells were mostly neurons and astrocytes. Electrophoresis of hemorrhagic brain extracts showed evidence of DNA laddering into approximately 200-bp fragments. Western blots showed cleavage of the cytosolic caspase substrate gelsolin. The density of TUNEL-positive cells at 24 and 48 hours after hemorrhage was significantly reduced by treatment with the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVADfmk. It was unlikely that apoptotic changes were due to neurotoxicity of injected collagenase because TUNEL-positive cells and DNA laddering were also obtained in an alternative model of hemorrhage where autologous blood was infused into the striatum. Furthermore, equivalent doses of collagenase did not induce cell death in primary neuronal cultures. These results provide initial evidence that apoptotic mechanisms may mediate some of the injury in brain after intracerebral hemorrhage.  (+info)

Striatocapsular haemorrhage. (2/26)

Haemorrhages in the striatocapsular area, or striatocapsular haemorrhages (SCHs), have been regarded as a single entity, although the area is composed of several functionally discrete structures that receive blood supply from different arteries. We analysed the morphological and clinical presentations of 215 cases of SCHs according to a new classification method we have designed on the basis of arterial territories. SCHs were divided into six types: (i) anterior type (Heubner's artery); (ii) middle type (medial lenticulostriate artery); (iii) posteromedial type (anterior choroidal artery); (iv) posterolateral type (posteromedial branches of lateral lenticulostriate artery); (v) lateral type (most lateral branches of lateral lenticulostriate artery); and (vi) massive type. The anterior type (11%) formed small caudate haematomas, always ruptured into the lateral ventricle, causing severe headache, and mild contralateral hemiparesis developed occasionally. The outcome was excellent. The middle type (7%) involved the globus pallidus and medial putamen, frequently causing contralateral hemiparesis and transient conjugate eye deviation to the lesion side. About 50% of the patients recovered to normal. The posteromedial type (4%) formed very small haematomas in the posterior limb of the internal capsule and presented with mild dysarthria, contralateral hemiparesis and sensory deficit, with excellent outcome in general. The posterolateral type (33%) affected the posterior half of the putamen and posterior limb of the internal capsule and presented with impaired consciousness and contralateral hemiparesis with either language dysfunction or contralateral neglect. The outcome was fair to poor but there were no deaths. The lateral type (21%) formed large elliptical haematomas between the putamen and insular cortex. Contralateral hemiparesis with language dysfunction or contralateral neglect developed frequently but resolved over several weeks. The clinical outcome was relatively excellent except when the haematoma size was very large. The massive type (24%) formed huge haematomas affecting the entire striatocapsular area. Marked sensorimotor deficits and impaired consciousness, ocular movement dysfunctions including the 'wrong-way' eyes were observed quite frequently. The outcome was very poor with a case fatality rate of 81%. The clinico-radiological presentations suggested its origin was the same as the posterolateral type.  (+info)

Relationship between stroke and asymptomatic minute hemorrhages in hypertensive patients. (3/26)

Asymptomatic small hemorrhages were identified in hypertensive patients by T2*-weighted gradient echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to investigate the relationship between hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage and asymptomatic minute hemorrhages. Forty-eight patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction with hypertension (these diseases were defined as stroke) were treated in National Defense Medical College from April 1998 to February 2000. All patients had no past history of stroke or head injury, underwent MR imaging within 6 months of the stroke attack, were aged from 40 to 80 years, and had no diagnosis of aneurysm, angioma, or moyamoya disease. Patients were divided into the infarction group and hemorrhage group. All foci over 2 mm in size appearing as hypointense on T2*-weighted MR imaging and unrelated to stroke areas were defined as minute hemorrhages. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to sex, age, and history of diabetes mellitus. The incidence of minute hemorrhages in the hemorrhage group (21/26) was greater than in the infarction group (9/22, p < 0.01). The incidence of minute hemorrhages in the basal ganglia (18/26) was greater in the hemorrhage group than in the infarction group (4/22, p < 0.001). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage may be preceded by asymptomatic minute hemorrhage.  (+info)

Hypertensive caudate hemorrhage prognostic predictor, outcome, and role of external ventricular drainage. (4/26)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the outcome and outcome predictors of caudate hemorrhage and role of external ventricular drainage in acute hydrocephalus. METHODS: Clinical data from 36 consecutive patients with hypertensive caudate hemorrhage was used in the present study. Age, gender, volume of parenchymal hematoma, hematoma in the internal capsule, initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), hydrocephalus, severity of intraventricular hemorrhage, and hemorrhagic dilatation of the fourth ventricle were analyzed for effect on outcome. Effect of external ventricle drainage for hydrocephalus was evaluated by comparing preoperative and postoperative GCS scores. RESULTS: By univariate analyses, poor outcome was associated with a poor initial GCS score (P=0.016), hydrocephalus (P<0.001), intraventricular hemorrhage severity (P<0.01), and hemorrhagic dilatation of the fourth ventricle (P=0.02). By multivariate analysis, stepwise logistic regression revealed that hydrocephalus was the only independent prognostic factor for poor outcome (P<0.001). Postoperative 48-hour GCS score was better than the preoperative score by use of paired-sample t test (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hydrocephalus is the most important predictor of poor outcome. External ventricular drainage response for hydrocephalus was good in the present study, whereas an early decision should be made regarding preoperative neurological condition.  (+info)

Longitudinal changes of metabolites in frontal lobes after hemorrhagic stroke of basal ganglia: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. (5/26)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We investigated serial metabolic changes in frontal lobes of patients with deep intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) to examine the correlation between N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and degree of motor impairment or clinical outcome. METHODS: - Twenty patients with deep ICH were examined with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy with the application of a multivoxel method (1 voxel=10x10x20 mm; 64 voxels). NAA/creatine ratios in the white matter of the primary motor and premotor areas on both sides were measured sequentially: within 48 hours, at 2 weeks, and 1 month after onset. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Barthel Index for disability were measured for each patient. RESULTS: - In the primary motor area on the affected side, where the hematoma did not extend, the NAA/creatine ratio decreased sequentially. At 48 hours and 2 weeks after onset, a negative correlation was detected between NAA/creatine and hematoma volume, but there was no correlation 1 month later. At 2 weeks, NAA/creatine correlated negatively with motor impairment (r=-0.750), and there was a significant correlation with clinical outcome as early as 2 weeks after onset (r=0.954). These sequential changes of NAA/creatine varied according to patients' long-term clinical outcome. Patients with poor outcome demonstrated notable reduction of NAA/creatine over the bilateral frontal lobes. CONCLUSIONS: - The delayed gradual reduction of NAA/creatine ratio in the frontal lobes correlates with motor deficit and clinical outcome after deep ICH, suggesting that the neural networks in the frontal lobe could be important for recovery.  (+info)

Stereotactic fibrinolysis of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma using infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. (6/26)

PURPOSE: The authors present a prospective study on 10 patients with stereotactic infusion of tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) intraparenchimal hemorrhage. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2000, 10 patients with deep seated hematomas in the basal ganglia were selected for stereotactic infusion of rtPA and spontaneous clot drainage. RESULTS: All cases had about 80% reduction of the hematoma volume in the CT scan at the third day. The intracranial pressure was normalized by the third day too. There were no local or systemic complications with the use of this thrombolytic. The results were shown by the Glasgow Outcome Scale with six patients in V, three in IV and one in III after 3 months. CONCLUSION: Early treatment and drainage with minimally invasive neurosurgery, can make these patients with deep-seated hematomas recover the consciousness and they can be rehabilitated earlier avoiding secondary complications.  (+info)

Possible acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis manifesting as intracerebral hemorrhage on computed tomography--case report. (7/26)

A 15-year-old girl presented with meningeal irritation and bilateral cerebral signs after contracting influenza. A lumbar puncture revealed bloody cerebrospinal fluid and polymorphonuclear predominant pleocytosis with an elevated protein level and normal glucose level. Computed tomography showed a hematoma in the right basal ganglia and lateral ventricles. Symmetrical low density areas were also noted in the bilateral white matter. The preliminary diagnosis was hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease of unknown cause. However, her neurological condition deteriorated. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed diffuse high intensity signals in the bilateral white matter and small spotty lesions, indicating hemorrhages in various stages. The final diagnosis was acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHL). However, high-dose steroid administration and plasmapheresis failed to improve her condition. Hypothermia could not control her intracranial pressure and she died 12 days after admission. The neuroimaging findings indicated the histological characteristics of AHL, but the hematoma formation is rare. AHL is a fulminant form of brain demyelination and can be fatal, so early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are important for successful recovery. Therefore, early investigation by MR imaging is necessary.  (+info)

Interobserver agreement in the assessment of lobar versus deep location of intracerebral haematomas on CT. (8/26)

In patients with supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), it is important to discriminate superficial (lobar) and deep (basal ganglia) location, since this has consequences for research and prognosis. Haemorrhages at these sites have different causes and different risk factors. We studied the interobserver variation between three radiologists in classifying fifty large haematomas on CT as deep or lobar. The kappa values were almost perfect, ranging from 0.88 to 0.96. We conclude that the assessment of CT by radiologist is a reliable method to discriminate between lobar versus deep origin even for large intracerebral haematomas.  (+info)

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