Recent infection as a risk factor for intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhages.
Previous infection has been shown to be a risk factor for acute cerebral ischemia. We tested the hypothesis that recent infection is also a risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We performed a case-control study with 56 consecutive patients with ICH, 44 consecutive patients with SAH, and 56 and 44 neurological control patients, respectively. Infection within 4 weeks was associated with SAH independently of hypertension and smoking (p = 0.049). There was no significant association between infection and ICH. Recent infection, primarily upper respiratory tract infection, may be a risk factor for SAH by contributing to the formation and rupture of aneurysms.
Kunze
A K
AK
Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.Alexandra_Kunze@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Annecke
A
A
Wigger
F
F
Lichy
C
C
Buggle
F
F
Schnippering
H
H
Schnitzler
P
P
Grau
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*