title: Effect of on-admission antiplatelet treatment on patients with cerebral hemorrhage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antiplatelet treatment remains the first choice for primary and secondary prevention of vascular diseases; even so, expected benefits may be offset by risk of bleeding, particularly cerebral hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of antiplatelet treatment on clinical outcome at hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with first-ever stroke due to a primary intraparenchymal hemorrhage were prospectively identified over a 4-year period (2000-2003). Data on hemorrhage location, vascular risk factors, and antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatment were collected. At discharge, outcome was measured using the modified Rankin Scale (disabling stroke > or =3). Patients treated with anticoagulant therapy were excluded from the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 457 consecutive patients with cerebral hemorrhage, 94 (20.5%) had been taking antiplatelet agents. The treated patients (mean age for antiplatelet group 78.9 +/- 9.0 years) were older than the nontreated patients (73.8 +/- 9.4, p = 0.02). In-hospital mortality was 23.4 and 23.1% (p = n.s.) for patients who had been taking antiplatelet agents or no treatment. Poor outcome at discharge was found in 52.1 and 59.7% (p = n.s.), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that age and coma at admission were predictors of disability at discharge, but antiplatelet treatment was not. Additionally, age and coma were shown to be determinants of disability at discharge after multivariate analysis: OR 1.03 per year (95% CI: 1.018-1.049), p < 0.001 and OR 1.68 (95% CI: 1.138-2.503), p = 0.009, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemorrhagic stroke continues to be responsible for a high percentage of disability and death. Furthermore, it was seen here that functional outcome was independent of previous antiplatelet treatment.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Unit, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, San'Andrea delle Fratte, Perugia, Italy. vcaso@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caso
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paciaroni
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palmerini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milia
authors.forename: Antonia M R
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Billeci
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silvestrelli
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agnelli
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D003128:Coma / Q000150:complications; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors