Review Article

Molecular, Pathological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Aspects of Perihematomal Edema in Different Stages of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Table 7

Clinical studies on potential therapeutic targets for PHE after ICH.

Potential targetsAuthorsDrugs/reagents/treatmentsSamplesTime pointsMain findingsReferences

Dehydration therapyShoamanesh et al.Hypertonic normal saline, mannitol, glycerin, fructose, and albuminMultiple studiesGuidelines based on multiple studies in the acute phase of ICHCurrently, there is insufficient evidence for the routine or prophylactic use of hyperosmotic agents in ICH.
Mannitol and 3% normal saline can be considered a temporizing measure to decrease ICP in patients with ICH with clinical signs of herniation before surgical intervention.
[3]
Cook et al.Different dehydrate agentsMultiple studiesGuidelines based on multiple studies in the acute phase of ICHThe use of corticosteroids to treat ICP in ICH can cause harm, has no proven benefits, and is therefore not recommended.
There is a dire need for high-quality research to better inform clinicians about the best options for personalized care of patients with cerebral edema.
[221]

Blood pressure controlLeasure et al.NicardipineOne thousand patients with primary ICH less than 60 mL and elevated systolic BP (>180 mm Hg)Within 4.5 hours of onset (target SBP 110–139 mm Hg within 2 hours) or standard (target SBP 140–179 mm Hg within 2 hours)Decrease in 24-hour PHER in deep ICH.
Higher PHER predicted a poor outcome in basal ganglia ICH but not all deep ICH.
[144]
Zang et al.Urapidil121 patientsWithin 6 hoursReduction in rebleeding and PHE.
Improvement in short-term quality of life.
Early intensive antihypertensive treatment had no impact on mortality.
[225]
Zhang et al.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers635 patientsPreuseDecrease in mortality, volume of perihematomal edema, and prevalence of ICH-associated pneumonia.[226]

HemostasisJiang et al.NANANAStudies on the efficacy of hematoma expansion are currently controversial.
No study has investigated the impact of hemostasis on PHE after ICH.
[227]
Selim et al.Deferoxamine mesylate (DFO)294 patientsDFO (32 mg/kg/day) or saline (placebo) was infused for 3 consecutive days within 24 hours after ICHAlthough DFO treatment was safe, it did not change functional outcome on day 90 after ICH.[231]
Wei et al.Deferoxamine mesylate (DFO)294 patientsDFO (32 mg/kg/day) or saline (placebo) was infused for 3 consecutive days within 24 hours after ICHIn 114 patients with moderate volume of hematoma (10-30 mL), deferoxamine alleviated functional deficit on day 90 after ICH.[232]

ImmunotherapiesFu et al.Fingolimod23 primary supratentorial ICH patients with a volume of hematoma of 5 to 30 mLOral administration of fingolimod in 72 hours 3 timesReduction in PHE.
Attenuation in neurologic deficits.
[233]
Chang et al.Minocycline20 patientsMinocycline was administered intravenously once a day, five days in totalNo changes in clinical and radiological results.
Serum levels of MMP-9 on day 5 tended to be lower in the minocycline group.
[235]
Fouda et al.Minocycline16 patientsIntravenous administration once followed by oral administration every 4 daysDid not influence inflammatory biomarkers, hematoma volume, or perihematomal edema.[236]

Surgical managementZuo et al.Gross-total removal of the hematoma176 patients with hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhageWithin 3 hoursDecrease in the formation of perihematomal edema and secondary injury.[237]
Fung et al.Decompressive craniectomy25 patients15 (4–69) hoursA noticeable increase in perihematomal edema.[239]
Okuda et al.Craniotomy or stereotactic hematoma evacuation16 patientsWithin 24 hours of onsetReduction of brain edema.[238]
Horowitz et al.Minimally invasive surgery (MIS)36 patientsUnavailableDecrease in pericavity edema.[241]
Lian et al.Minimally invasive surgery+rt-PA43 patients6-72 hours after the onset of ICHMIS reduced PHE volume.
rt-PA accelerated clot removal and had no effects on PHE formation.
MIS aspiration and a low dose of rt-PA reduced 30-day mortality in patients with severe ICH.
[242]
Xia et al.Minimally invasive craniopuncture with the hard- or soft-channel150 patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhageWithin 24 hours of onsetMinimally invasive soft-channel craniopuncture is more effective in treating HICH in alleviating cerebral edema, inhibiting oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.[243]

Other therapyNaval et al.Statins125 ICH patientsPrior statin exposureThe mean relative perihematomal edema was significantly lower in patients taking statins at presentation than in patients without prior statin use.[244]
Sprugel et al.Statins1,275 ICH patientsInitiation of statins after ICH during the first days after ICHThe initiation of statins during the first days after ICH may increase PHE. However, statins should be initiated after that (e.g., at hospital discharge) to prevent cardiovascular events and potentially improve functional recovery.[245]
Zhang et al.Sulfonylureas27 patients with acute basal ganglia hemorrhageSulfonylurea pretreatment before the onset of ICHThe pretreatment of sulfonylureas significantly reduced both PHE volume and rPHE.[143]
Corry et al.ConivaptanSeven patientsAdministered every 12 hours for two daysConivaptan can be administered safely to ICH patients.
Although it evaluated the change in PHE, it did not compare patients without conivaptan.
[247]
Zhao et al.Remote ischemic conditioning40 subjects with supratentorial ICHConsecutive seven days after ICHImprovement in the resolution rate of the hematoma and reduction in the relative PHE.[248]
Baker et al.Therapeutic hypothermiaMultiple studiesSystematic review and meta-analysisIt is currently difficult to determine the extent of the harm caused by post-ICH fever. The cooling strategies used in the clinical studies were highly diverse. Definitive randomized controlled studies are still required to answer the therapeutic effects of hypothermia on PHE in ICH patients.[140]

Abbreviations: ICH: intracerebral hemorrhage; ICP: intracranial pressure; PHE: perihematomal edema; PHER: expansion rate of perihematomal edema expansion rate; BP: blood pressure; SBP: systolic blood pressure; MMP-9: matrix metallopeptidase-9; rt-PA: recombinant tissue plasminogen activator; HICH: hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.