Abstract 183: Antithrombotic Therapy and Bleeding Risk in a Prospective Cohort Study of Patients with Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM)
BACKGROUND: Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) are the most frequently diagnosed vascular malformations in the brain and are often asymptomatic. The potential risk of hemorrhage often precludes antithrombotic treatment in patients with cardiovascular disease, but no systematic study has been undertaken to evaluate the effect of blood-thinning therapy on the risk of CCM hemorrhage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively followed consecutive patients with a diagnosis of one or more CCMs in a prospective database since 2008. Retrospective data collection was used for patients with a diagnostic event or imaging studies done prior to first assessment. Symptomatic hemorrhage and other focal neurological events during prospective follow-up were defined according to the current guidelines of the Angioma Alliance Scientific Advisory board RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were prospectively enrolled in our cohort (50 women (57%), mean age 44.8 years (SD +/- 17.6), mean follow up 3.9 years) harboring a total of 738 CCMs. N=55 patients (63%) had a single CCM, and 32 patients (37%) had multiple CCMs. Longitudinal follow-up included 16 (18%) patients receiving long-term antithrombotic therapy by antiplatelet treatment (n=11) or oral anticoagulants (n=5). During 5536 lesion-years of observation, none of the patients under antithrombotic therapy experienced CCM hemorrhage on follow up. CONCLUSION: Our observational data suggest long-term antithrombotic treatment by antiplatelet drugs or warfarin does not increase the frequency of CCM-related hemorrhage. Patients harboring single or multiple CCMs suffering ischemic stroke or heart disease should not be withheld antithrombotic therapy.