Intracerebral haemorrhage revisited

Abstract

Much evidence suggests that acute intracerebral haemorrhage usually starts to appear an hour or two after a thromboembolic brain infarct. Intravenous thrombolytic treatment is accepted treatment for acute ischaemic stroke; but all neurologists concur that brain imaging should be performed first, so that thrombolysis can be avoided if bleeding has already started. This article calls into question the current guidelines for the use of thrombolytic treatment in acute stroke. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved.