Abstract TP130: Effect Of Antifibrinolytic Medication On Hematoma Expansion In Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Post Thrombolytic Intracerebral Hemorrhages

Background and Purpose: Antifibrinolytic medications such as the synthetic lysine analogs tranexamic acid and ε-aminocaproic acid inhibit fibrinolysis by attaching to the lysine-binding site of the plasminogen molecule. However, the efficacy of intravenous (IV) antifibrinolytic medication in the prevention of hematoma expansion in acute ischemic stroke patients who develop post thrombolytic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unclear. Methods: We analyzed the effect of antifibrinolytic medication in acute ischemic stroke patients with post thrombolytic ICH on hematoma expansion over an 8-year period. The Region-of-Interest; method on a Horos Medical Image Viewer (Version 3.3.6) was utilized for hematoma volume measurement on serial computed tomographic scans. We compared changes in hemorrhage volume in patients who did and did not receive IV antifibrinolytic medication. Results: A total of 53 patients (mean age 69.7±14.3, 53% were men) with post thrombolytic ICH were analyzed. Twenty-six patients received antifibrinolytic treatment: 20 and 6 patients received a single IV dose of ε-aminocaproic acid (5 g) or tranexamic acid (1 g), respectively. Ten patients (38%) had a reduction or stabilization in hematoma volume (overall pre and post-treatment volumes were 17.43±16.23 cm3 and 25.14±26.57 cm3 respectively). Mean fibrinogen level in the antifibrinolytic medication group was 277 mg/dL; 3 patients had levels <200 mg/dL. In patients that did not receive antifibrinolytics, 16 (59%) out of 27 patients had a reduction or stabilization in hematoma volume (overall pre and post-treatment volumes were 19.74±32.32 cm3 and 27.15±52.58 cm3 respectively). The mean percent change in hematoma volume with antifibrinolytic medication treatment was 48% and without was 27%. [Figure 1] Conclusion: We did not identify any reduction in any of the measures of hematoma expansion with antifibrinolytic treatment in acute ischemic stroke patients with post thrombolytic ICH.