Association of low cholesterol with primary intracerebral haemorrhage: a case control study.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is high in patients with low cholesterol levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between ICH and low cholesterol in cases of primary ICH.


METHODS
Two hundred and fifty-nine patients with primary intracerebral haemorrhage and 137 healthy individuals were included in this study. Patients with prior cerebrovascular accident, secondary ICH, hereditary lipid metabolism disorders, thyroid diseases and those using lipid-lowering drugs were excluded. In all subjects, cholesterol levels were measured after 12 h of fasting.


RESULTS
Mean cholesterol levels were 205.8 +/- 51.4 mg/dl in the ICH group and 230.2 +/- 38.9 mg/dl in the control group. Mean cholesterol levels of patients were significantly lower than the controls (P < 0.000). In ICH group, the frequency of patients who had very low cholesterol levels was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with lower cholesterol levels have an increased risk of ICH. Therefore, before treatment with statins, clinicians must be aware of the possible ICH risk.
Orken
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DN
Neurology Department, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. orkenada@superonline.com
Kenangil
G
G
Celik
M
M
Mail
Z
Z
Kayaalp
H
H
Erginoz
E
E
Forta
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D015897:Comorbidity; D000075202:Contraindications; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol