Risk factors for spontaneous cerebral hematomas. Case-control study.

In a case-control study of 73 cases of cerebral hematoma diagnosed by CT scan, significant risk factors were history of hypertension, chronic alcoholism, evidence of hepatic disease, EKG abnormalities and high hematocrit values. Initial blood pressure was significantly higher in cases, but blood pressure on the third day after admission was not different from controls. Hypertension and alcoholism did not show a clear correlation, but data from other studies explain the role of alcoholism in vascular disease through a relation with high blood pressure. Risk factors were similar in lobar and basal ganglia hematomas.