Molecular pathophysiology of cerebral hemorrhage: secondary brain injury

Stroke. 2011 Jun;42(6):1781-6. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.596718. Epub 2011 Apr 28.

Abstract

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an often fatal type of stroke that kills approximately 30,000 people annually in the United States. If the patient survives the ictus, then the resulting hematoma within brain parenchyma triggers a series of adverse events causing secondary insults and severe neurological deficits. This article discusses selected aspects of secondary brain injury after ICH and outlines key mechanisms associated with hematoma toxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Finally, this review discusses the relevance of hematoma resolution processes as a target for ICH therapy and presents potential clinically relevant molecular targets that could be harnessed to treat secondary injury associated with ICH injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Injuries / etiology*
  • Brain Injuries / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / complications*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / metabolism
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / physiopathology*
  • Haptoglobins / metabolism
  • Hematoma / complications
  • Hematoma / physiopathology
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / metabolism
  • Hemopexin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Oxidative Stress
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism

Substances

  • Haptoglobins
  • PPAR gamma
  • Hemopexin
  • Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)