Incidence of Intracranial haemorrhage in Computed Tomography in patients undergoing an anticoagulant or platelet antiaggregant therapy.

Abstract

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is a complication described in anticoagulant (AC) therapy, as well as in platelet antiaggregant (PAA) therapy. The ‘Hospital Italiano’ of Cordoba province holds a large number of elderly adults who are frequently treated with the mentioned therapies for diverse conditions. computed tomography (CT) is used to detect intracranial haemorrhage lesions,.

The objective was to determine the incidence of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) in tomographic studies of patients undergoing an anticoagulant or platelet antiaggregant therapy, treated in Hospital Italiano. To describe the possible causes and location of ICH. To identify the prevalence of associated risk factors such as hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus, current smoking and dyslipidaemia

Retrospective and descriptive review of 186 ICH cases diagnosed usin brain CT scan without contrast from patients a the Image Diagnosis Service of the Hospital Italiano of Cordoba from 1/01/2018 to 31/5/2019. Analysis of the Electronic medical history to evaluate the background and the risk factors.

ICH under AC or PAA therapy 17.74% (n=33). PAA: 75.75% (n=25). AC: 24.24% (n=8).  Traumatic brain injury (TBI): 21% (n=7). Male/Female: 17/16. Age range: 58-89 years (mean 76,5 years). Intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH): 72.72% (n=24), Subdural hematoma (SDH): 27.27% (n=9), Epidural  hematoma (EDH): 0, Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH): 21.21% (n=7), Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH): 24.24 % (n=8).  Risk factors: HT: 97.87 % (n=29). Diabetes: 33.33% (n=11). Current smoking: 9.09% (n=3). Dyslipidaemia: 36.36% (n=12).  

A 17% of the patients with ICH were undergoing an anticoagulant or platelet antiaggregant therapy, 21% of them with previous TBI. The Intraparenchymal haemorrhage was the most frequent location. The most prevalent risk factor was hypertension (HT)