ABSTRACT

We describe the case of a spontaneous multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage in a Congolese subject presenting no risk factor. He is a 32-year-old subject with no particular history admitted for seizures in which the cerebral scanner has revealed spontaneous multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages. He only received medical treatment. It remains a very rare entity. The location of the hematoma is variable and is usually located in the basal ganglia due to chronic hypertension.

Keywords:

Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Spontaneous Multifocal, Seizures

1. Introduction

Intracerebral hemorrhage represents 8% to 30% of all strokes in the West [1] [2], but 28% to 60% in Africa [3] [4]. Multifocal spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is a rare phenomenon [5] [6] and is a separate entity from focal intracerebral hemorrhage. The pathophysiology of spontaneous multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages has not been elucidated [6]. However, several contributing factors have been described in the literature, namely: hypertension, multiple micro-bleeding, by lipohyalinosis, cerebral angiopathy, vasculitis, deep cerebral venous thrombosis, oral anticoagulants, cerebral hemorrhagic infarctions and neoplasm [1] [5] [6] [7]. The multifocal nature of the hemorrhage makes management more difficult and correlates this entity with increased mortality [7] [8]. There is no consensus on the best method for managing these lesions. Medical and surgical management strategies can be considered for these patients. Thus, we report an observation of spontaneous multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage in a young Congolese subject in Pointe-Noire.

2. Cases Reports

A 32-year-old Mr TM without any particular antecedents admitted for generalized tonic-clonic seizures of generalized duration of 5 minutes with loosening sphincter, bite of the lateral edge of the tongue in a context of headaches in intense helmet. Type of hammer strike associated with vomiting-type digestive disorders at the rate of two discharges. The clinical examination after the convulsive seizure, found a blood pressure at 140/90 mmhg for the right arm and 130/90 mmhg for the left arm and a heart rate of 86 beats/minute, a patient obsessed with a Glasgow score of 12/15 (eye opening 3, verbal response 4, motor response 5), bilateral pyramidal syndrome. The CT scan performed without contrast medium injection reveals multifocal intra-parenchymal hematomas with no mass effect on bilateral, temporal and frontal lobe structures associated with subdural hematoma (Figure 1 & Figure 2).

The biological assessment, namely (Table 1): the assessment of coagulation,

C-reactive protein, blood count, anti-HIV1 and anti-HIV2 antibodies, returned to normal; as well as blood glucose, blood ionogram, liver and kidney function. The management was symptomatic, namely an osmotic diuretic (mannitol), carbamazepine 10 - 15 mg/kg/day in two doses; paracetamol at 3 g/d, physical rehabilitation. The evolution is marked by the recovery of consciousness with a cooperating patient, performing simple orders and a blood pressure of 120/70 mmhg at both arms, the heart rate at 68 beats/minute. He went out on the 17th day of his hospitalization. Follow-up appointments with follow-up imaging were scheduled at 1 and 3 months, but the patient was lost to follow-up.

3. Discussion

Spontaneous multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages are very rare events and little described in the literature [1] [6] [9]. They were seen in only 2% of hemorrhagic strokes. Their incidence is very variable from 0.7% to 3.4% of all cerebral hemorrhages [1]. Yen et al. [7] an incidence of 0.8% of multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages among all intracranial hemorrhages. In sub-Saharan Africa we have not found any publications made on this subject.

Due to the small number of reported cases, the underlying pathology is still unknown. The factors incriminated at the origin of the development of atraumatic multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage are numerous, only hypertension is responsible for at least half of spontaneous hemorrhages [10] [11]. Other factors also play a role, namely: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, vasculitis, administration of tissue plasminogen activator by intravenous route, deep cerebral venous thrombosis, taking anticoagulant, etc. These causative factors are similar to those of focal intracerebral hemorrhages [1] [5] [11].

High blood pressure has been reported as a major risk factor for multifocal hemorrhage in several studies [6] [9]. Chronic hypertension can lead to structural and functional hemodynamic changes in the cerebral arteries [12] and lead to vascular degeneration responsible for the formation of microaneurysms, which can lead to the occurrence of multiple simultaneous hemorrhages [5] [12] [13]. However, hypertension does not seem to be the only cause, indeed multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages not associated with high blood pressure or any other degenerative cerebrovascular disease have been found, which suggests the presence of an unrecognized process involving several small cerebral arteries [14]. In the brain, a prolonged increase in cerebral perfusion affects the small perforating arteries and gradually this results in arteriopathy. This fibrinoid degeneration and lipohyalinosis weakens over time, and Charcot-Bouchard type microaneurysms develop. The sudden rupture of the latter marks the development of intracerebral hemorrhage [4] [14] [15]. These pathological changes are observed mainly in the small perforating arteries which branch out from the major intracerebral pathways with the vessel [8]. According to Weisberg et al. [16], the site of the most common non-traumatic hypertensive hemorrhages are: putamen (which represent 50% of all cases); the white matter of the temporal lobe, the frontal or parietal lobe; the thalamus; the cerebellar hemispheres. Our patient developed two hemispherical hemorrhages in the temporal and frontal lobes.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy in elderly patients accounts for 5% - 20% of recurrent or multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages [5] [11]. It is a risk factor for focal spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, which is associated with lobar hematomas. Amyloid protein is rarely deposited in the basal ganglia and brainstem, which are sites commonly associated with intracerebral hemorrhage linked to hypertension [11]. However, it is exceptional to find a sporadic amyloid angiopathy, responsible for a hemorrhage in a young subject like our case.

Another risk factor contributing to the occurrence of multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages is central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis. However, a normal inflammatory assessment or a normal brain biopsy does not exclude vasculitis [1] [11]. Indeed, Seo et al. [6] reported two cases of multiple intracerebral hemorrhage with a blood count and normal coagulation results but associated with an increase in the rate of sedimentation. Noskin et al. [17] have demonstrated that there is a high false negative rate of brain biopsies in the diagnosis of CNS vasculitis. In our case, no specific causal factor was found, so we consider that these intracerebral hemorrhages were spontaneous. This observation was also made by José et al. [18].

The clinical manifestations of multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages are not specific and generally depend on the side and location of the hemorrhage. Patients present with various symptoms, such as confusional syndrome, motor deficits, neuropsychological deficits, language disorders, seizures. Prognostic factors have not been reported. However, some patients have a worse prognosis than patients with isolated intracerebral hemorrhage. The neurological sequelae are serious even if the lesions are small, due to the decrease in cerebral blood flow in the two cerebral hemispheres [9].

The association of intra-parenchymal hematomas with a subdural hematoma would have evoked certain etiologies such as a hematological or oncological disease, taking toxic drugs or a HELLP syndrome, but the patient could not benefit from a complete assessment looking for these different etiologies [19].

Therapeutically no consensus has been reached due to the lack of data regarding the causal factors involved at present. The treatment depends on the reference centers. It can include a medical component only or a surgical component. The surgical removal of multifocal intracerebral hemorrhages is controversial, but Shiomi et al. [20] have suggested that Surgical treatment of multiple hematomas should be determined by the location of the hematoma. For single spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, surgical removal of large hematomas may be the best course of action; However, conclusive data are not available [8]. Early surgical evacuation of hemorrhages in the posterior cerebral fossa greater than 3 cm in diameter is indicated in case of clinical deterioration and signs of compression of the brainstem [18]. Mendelow et al. [21] revealed that early surgical treatment had no advantage over medical treatment in 1033 patients with deep multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage performed in 83 centers; However, patients with superficial hemorrhage (defined as less than 1 cm from the cortex) have shown better results when treated surgically, compared to deep localizations.

On the medical level, management is essentially based on the control of high blood pressure [22]. It is currently recommended that blood pressure be lowered below 140/90 mm Hg within one hour of admission [23] [24]. Intracranial hypertension is treated first with an elevation of the head of the bed to 30 degrees, analgesia and sedation; Osmotic diuretics such as mannitol and hypertonic saline may be used, in addition to drainage of the CSF by ventriculostomy [21]. Simultaneous monitoring of blood pressure and intracranial hypertension can be done to ensure target cerebral perfusion pressure greater than 70 mmHg to reduce reflex vasodilation or cerebral ischemia [25].

The use of procoagulants is not recommended unless the patient has a known coagulopathy, such as hemophilia [1] [21]. Studies have shown an increased risk of acute epileptic seizures and later epilepsy in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage [1] [5]. Acute attacks should be treated with antiepileptic drugs; However, prophylactic anticonvulsant therapy is not recommended due to lack of sufficient evidence [22]. For suspected CNS vasculitis, Noskin et al. [17] treated patients with clinical worsening with prednisone and cyclophosphamide with significant improvement. We consulted with the neurosurgery team who declined any form of surgery, so our patient only received medical treatment.

4. Conclusion

Spontaneous atraumatic multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage remains a very rare entity. The site of the hematoma is generally located at the level of the central gray nuclei due to chronic hypertension, however other topographies can be observed. The clinical symptoms depend on the site of the hemorrhage. The pathological mechanism and predisposing factors are still unknown. Hypertension, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and vasculitis may be responsible for his bleeding. There is no consensus on therapeutic management, which is essentially based on medical treatment; careful surgical management may be considered in the event of worsening of symptoms.

Publication

The patient agrees for the publication of this work.

Conflicts of Interest

There was no conflict of interest during our work.

Cite this paper

Sounga Bandzouzi, P.E.G., Mbaki, H.B.E., Latou, D.H.M., Mpan- dzou, G.A., Diatewa, J., Kaoudi, A., Diouf, N.M., Amioth, F.N.A., Ebelebe, V., Koubemba, G.C. and Osou-Nguiet, P.M. (2020) Multifocal Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage about a Case and Review of the Literature. Neuroscience & Medicine, 11, 12-19. https://doi.org/10.4236/nm.2020.111002

References