Abstract 159: Current Treatment with Clotting Factors Does not Improve Outcome from Intracranial Hemorrhage After Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Objective & Background: Significant intracranial hemorrhage (sigICH), defined as either symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage SICH or parenchymal hematoma type 2 (PH2), is a concerning complication of thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). While clotting factors have been incorporated into clinical protocols, the effectiveness of such treatment for sigICH has not been evaluated. We investigated the effects of clotting factors, fresh frozen plasma FFP and cryoprecipitate, in patients with sigICH post thrombolysis. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all patients with sigICH after TPA for AIS in the prospective University of Texas at Houston Stroke registry; January 2007 - July 2011. We included all patients who received TPA for AIS and subsequently developed sigICH. Patients either received clotting factors (FFP or cryoprecipitate) or conservative management. The primary outcome measure was modified Rankin scale at discharge. The other outcome was death. We collected data on confounding variables: Stroke risk factors, infarct prognostic variables and intracerebral hematoma prognostic variables. Statistical analysis was by Fisher-exact, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney-U tests. Results: Out of 921 patients receiving TPA, sigICH occurred in 50. We excluded 3 because of enrollment in clinical trials. Out of 47 patients, 37 received IV TPA alone and 10 received IV TPA with subsequent intra-arterial therapy. Clotting factors were given in 22/47 (46.8%) patients; 18 received FFP & 9 received cryoprecipitate. The rest received no specific therapies for hemorrhage. There was no difference in stroke severity between groups before and after TPA. The incidence of hydrocephalus was higher in patients receiving clotting factors. There were no differences in outcomes at discharge in either group; the majority of patients in both groups had poor outcomes (mRS was >3). Mortality was high and not different between the two groups. Fibrinogen levels before and after clotting factors did not significantly differ from the patients who received only conservative management. Table 1. Conclusions: We found that clinical outcome of sigICH post TPA is poor. Furthermore, our data suggest that clotting factors do not improve the poor outcome associated with sigICH after t-PA. Our study is limited by small sample size, and the higher incidence of hydrocephalus in those receiving clotting factors may have influenced the outcomes. Nevertheless, our data suggest that new therapies are urgently needed for t-PA associated intracranial hemorrhage.