title: Pineal calcification is a novel risk factor for symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pineal calcification is associated with symptomatic cerebral infarction in humans. However, there are limited data on the association of pineal calcification and intracerebral hemorrhage. We evaluated this association of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and pineal calcification by computed tomography of the brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed all computed tomographic (CT) scans of the brains of patients over 15 years of age during the year 2011 at a university teaching hospital. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was identified by having clinical syndrome of stroke and acute intracerebral hemorrhage from brain CT scans. Pineal calcification was also evidenced by brain CT scans. Other stroke risk factors were recorded. The association of various risk factors including pineal calcification and intracerebral hemorrhage was calculated using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2140 CT scans of the brains during the study period. Of those, 1071 scans (50.05%) met the study criteria. Intracerebral hemorrhage and pineal calcification were found in 77 (7.2%) and 689 (64.3%) patients, respectively. Pineal calcification was a significant risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.36 (95% confidence interval of 1.22-4.54). Other significant factors were age>50 years, hypertension, and diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pineal calcification is associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kean University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Amnat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitkhuandee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kean University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; The Research and Training Center for Enhancing Quality of Life of Working-Age People, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. Electronic address: kittisak@kku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Kittisak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawanyawisuth
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Melatonin Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kean University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jaturat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanpittaya
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Melatonin Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Supinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuntapakul
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Melatonin Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nutjaree Pratheepawanit
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Johns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Association; Intracerebral hemorrhage; Melatonin; Pineal calcification