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.