Basal ganglia-thalamic hemorrhage in young adults: A hospital-based study

Background: The causes of basal ganglia-thalamic hemorrhage in the young are not well established. Therefore, its clinical profile, etiology, and risk factors were studied. Methods: Retrospectively, collected data were evaluated using the chi(2) test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Gender differences occurred in the clinical profile, risk factors, and etiological spectrum. Large hematoma, Glasgow Coma Scale <= 10 on admission, and the need for surgical intervention occurred significantly more frequently in males. The etiologies included vascular anomaly in 13 of 247 enrollees (5.3%), hypertension (80.2%), alcoholism/cigarette smoking (4.9%), medical problems (8.5%), and cryptogenic causes (5.3%). Conclusion: The need for aggressive investigation is suggested in normotensive patients, especially in females and those aged below 30 years. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.