title: Early administration of low molecular weight heparin after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. A safety analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication after stroke. Application of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) has been proven to be beneficial for the prevention of VTE in ischemic stroke patients. However, there is no consensus whether and how to administer LMWH for prevention of thrombotic complications after acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), the main concern being possible hematoma growth. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of early subcutaneous LMWH in patients with sICH with respect to hemorrhage enlargement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 97 patients with sICH were analyzed. LMWH (either enoxaparin-natrium or dalteparin-natrium) were initiated within 36 h after admission in all patients without clinical evidence of hemorrhage enlargement or an absence of evidence of hematoma growth on CT. Hematoma growth (significant when >33%, moderate when >20%) was assessed on follow-up CT between days 5 and 11.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients showed a significant hemorrhage growth. Between days 2 and 10, 2 patients experienced a moderate hematoma enlargement of 22.4 and 20.9%. None of the included patients developed a fatal lung embolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early application of subcutaneous LMWH for prevention of venous thromboembolism seems to be safe, and probably does not increase the risk of hematoma growth in patients with sICH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ines C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Kiphuth
authors.forename: Dimitre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staykov
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köhrmann
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Struffert
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Jurgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bardutzky
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kollmar
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäurer
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Schellinger
authors.forename: Max-Josef
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hilz
authors.forename: Arnd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doerfler
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Hagen B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Huttner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight