Recombinant Factor VIIa Treatment for Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a lethal stroke type with a high morbidity and mortality. Hematoma growth is one of the independent determinants of neurological and functional outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage. Attenuation of growth is an important therapeutic strategy. Hemostatic therapeutic intervention, given ultra-early in the course of intracerebral hemorrhage, may thus improve clinical outcomes by arresting ongoing bleeding and limiting in turn the size of the hematoma. Recombinant factor VIIa is a hemostatic drug approved to treat bleeding in hemophilia or other coagulopathy; it has also been reported to arrest bleeding in nonhemophilic cases. We reviewed of the published articles specifically addressing clinical trials of recombinant factor VIIa treatment for acute intracerebral hemorrhage and evaluate the safety and feasibility of it.