ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The hypertension is known to be the most important risk factor for the intracerebral hemorrhage. We analyzed other risk factors associated with hypertension that may contribute in the episode of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: Medical records of 100 patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage between January 1995 and December 2000 were reviewed and analyzed for age, sex, serum total cholesterol level, regular management of hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, arrhythmia and left ventricular hypertrophy in ECG. RESULTS: 1) Mean age was 64.1+/-11.3 years old and there were 35 males and 65 females. 2) Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 176.9+/-35.9 mmHg and 106.3+/-20.7 mmHg. 3) Mean serum total cholesterol level was 182.6+/-46.4 mg/dL. 35.5% of the patients had serum total cholesterol levels less than 160 mg/dl and 33.4% were between 160-199 mg/dL. 4) Only 16% of the patients had any kind of treatment for hypertension. CONCLUSION: The high blood pressure and the treatment for hypertension were most important risk factors for hypertensive intrace- rebral hemorrhage. Also, 68.9% of the patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage had normal to low serum total cholesterol level. Thus low to normal serum total cholesterol level could be a risk factor of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.