Multiple cerebral microbleeds: MRI marker of a diffuse hemorrhage-prone state.
BACKGROUND
Recent reports have indicated that cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) detected on gradient-echo (GRF) magnetic resonance imaging may be a risk factor for therapy related intracranial hemorrhages (ICHs).


METHODS
The authors describe 3 patients with multiple CMBs in whom ICHs occurred either after tissue plasminogen activator administration or after the initiation of antiplatelet therapy. Hemorrhages occurred in brain areas with normal appearances on GRE imaging and remote from the CMBs.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple CMBs may signal a diffuse hemorrhage-prone vasculopathy.
Chalela
Julio A
JA
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Room B1D733, MSC 1063, Bethesda, MD 20892-1063, USA. chalelaj@ninds.nih.gov
Kang
Dong-Wha
DW
Warach
Steven
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016684:Prone Position