Recombinant factor VIIa in a case of pontine hemorrhage.

A 59-year-old lady presented with hypertensive hemorrhage involving the pons. Since she presented within 3 hours of onset of the stroke, recombinant factor VIIa was administered. From a state of altered sensorium there was a rapid recovery of consciousness followed by gradual improvement in limb weakness. Serial CT scans of the brain revealed no further expansion of the hematoma. The hematoma progressively resolved. Recombinant factor VIIa could be an attractive therapeutic option in treating hemorrhages at critical sites like brainstem where expansion of hematoma could be fatal.