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Hemorrhagic stroke    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Stroke - hemorrhagic

Definition:

A hemorrhagic stroke is bleeding that occurs within ischemic brain tissue (see also stroke).

Causes and Risks

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that is damaged or dead from lack of blood supply (infarcted) -- located within an area of infarcted brain tissue -- ruptures. This transforms the previously "ischemic" stroke into a "hemorrhagic" stroke. (Note: ischemia is inadequate tissue oxygenation caused by reduced blood flow; infarction is tissue death resulting from ischemia.)

Bleeding irritates the brain tissues, causing swelling (cerebral edema). Blood collects into a mass (hematoma). Both swelling and hematoma will compress and displace brain tissue.

Risks for hemorrhagic stroke include hemophilia, decreased platelet count, sickle cell anemia, DIC, and anticoagulant medications. Hypertension and embolic strokes may also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

The initial effects of hemorrhagic stroke may be more severe than "simple" ischemic-type stroke, but long-term effects are essentially the same.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or other forms of intracranial hemorrhage may rarely cause stroke-like symptoms.

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