Factors associated with lobar vs. non-lobar intracerebral hemorrhage

Matsukawa H, Shinoda M, Fujii M, Takahashi O, Yamamoto D, Murakata A, Ishikawa R. Factors associated with lobar vs. non-lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. ?Acta Neurol Scand: 2012: 126: 116121. (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and stroke subtypes has received more research attention than that between BMI and location of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Lobar hemorrhage (LH) differs from non-LH primarily in terms of etiology, i.e. cerebral amyloid angiopathy is the main cause of LH. This study aimed to determine the relationship between BMI and ICH.Materials and methods In this retrospective study involving 460 consecutive patients with ICH, BMI was significantly lower in LH than for other ICH locations. BMI categories were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.523.0 kg/m2), overweight (23.027.5 kg/m2), or obesity (=27.5 kg/m2). Outcome at 1 year was evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We investigated the relationship of BMI and other clinical characteristics with LH and non-LH.Results LH was associated with age (>70 years), underweight, unfavorable outcome (mRS =3), and daily alcohol consumption. Hypertension and intraventricular bleeding were significantly less common in patients with LH than those with non-LH.Conclusions Alongside risk factors conventionally thought to be related to LH, underweight may also be a LH-related factor, specifically in the elderly.