Intracranial Hemorrhage in Children With Inherited Bleeding Disorders: A Single Center Study in China

Risk factors for neurologic sequelae in children and adolescents with hemophilia after intracranial hemorrhage

Background

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is reportedly rare but has high morbidity and mortality risk in persons with hemophilia. Although the risk factors that facilitate bleeding are known, the factors affecting the sequelae are not well known.

Objectives

We planned to investigate the risk factors for neurologic sequelae in children and adolescents with hemophilia suffering from ICH.

Methods

An invitation was sent to pediatric hematology centers via email. Clinical and laboratory findings, neurologic sequelae, and recurrence of bleeding in persons with hemophilia who developed ICH were questioned.

Results

Eighty-six patients from 21 centers were evaluated. All patients were less than 18 years of age at the time of ICH. Thirteen patients had ICH in the neonatal period, while 40 patients had a known diagnosis of hemophilia before ICH, and 33 patients were undiagnosed before ICH. Five patients died, 2 of whom died in the neonatal period. The rate of neurologic sequelae was 25 of 81 (30%). The most common neurologic sequela was epilepsy (n = 11/25), followed by hemiparesis (n = 5/25). Cerebral shift (odds ratio, 3.48) and development of ICH in the neonatal period (odds ratio, 4.67) were significant for the development of neurologic sequelae in multivariate analysis. On follow-up, recurrence of ICH occurred in 8 of 81 (10%).

Conclusion

ICH in the neonatal period and cerebral shift were the two main risk factors for the development of neurologic sequelae. Neonatal departments must be alert to the signs of bleeding. It is important for healthcare professionals to overcome the barriers to primary prophylaxis and to take trauma-related precautions.

Middle meningeal artery embolization in pediatric patient

PURPOSE

There is paucity of data in management of recurrent and expanding subdural hematomas (SDH) within the pediatric population, who are otherwise not surgical candidates. Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has been utilized minimally in this population and here, we explore the utility of this procedure in a 15-month-old-child, along with review of the literature.

METHODS

A case report of a 15-month-old child who underwent MMA embolization for recurrent and expanding SDH in the setting of anticoagulation for cardiac condition. A literature review of MMA embolization in pediatric patients was conducted.

RESULTS

Initially stabilization of SDH was noted on serial imaging; however, recurrent hemorrhages were noted with subsequent boluses of antiplatelet and anticoagulating agents. There are only 5 total reported cases, included ours, of MMA embolization in pediatrics with an overall success rate of 80%.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of chronic or recurrent subdural hematoma by MMA embolization in the pediatric population is understudied. Our case notes limitation of this procedure and impact on long-term success, specifically in patients with systemic illness and ongoing anticoagulation.

Intracranial Haemorrhage in Haemophilia Patients Is Still an Open Issue: The Final Results of the Italian EMO.REC Registry

Background: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a highly serious event in patients with haemophilia (PWH) which leads to disability and in some cases to death. ICH occurs among all ages but is particularly frequent in newborns. Aim: The primary aim was to assess the incidence and mortality due to ICH in an Italian population of PWH. Secondary aims were to evaluate the risk factors for ICH, the role of prophylaxis, and the clinical management of patients presenting ICH. Methods: A retrospective-prospective registry was established in the network of the Italian Association of Haemophilia Centers to collect all ICHs in PWH from 2009 to 2019 reporting clinical features, treatments, and outcomes. Results: Forty-six ICHs were collected from 13 Centers. The ICHs occurred in 15 children (10 < 2 years), and in 31 adults, 45.2% of them with mild hemophilia. Overall, 60.9% patients had severe haemophilia (15/15 children). Overall ICH incidence (×1000 person/year) was 0.360 (0.270−0.480 95% CI), higher in children <2 years, 1.995 (1.110−3.442 95% CI). Only 7/46 patients, all with severe haemophilia, had received a prophylactic regimen before the ICH, none with mild. Inhibitors were present in 10.9% of patients. In adult PWHs 17/31 suffered from hypertension; 85.7% of the mild subjects and 29.4% of the moderate/severe ones (p < 0.05). ICH was spontaneous in the 69.6% with lower rate in children (46.7%). Surgery was required in 21/46 patients for cerebral hematoma evacuation. Treatment with coagulation factor concentrates for at least three weeks was needed in 76.7% of cases. ICH was fatal in 30.4% of the cases. Of the survivors, 50.0% became permanently disabled. Only one-third of adult patients received long term prophylaxis after the acute treatment. Conclusion: The results from our Registry confirm the still high incidence of ICH in infants <2 years and in adults, particularly in mild PWHs presenting hypertension and its unfavorable outcomes. The majority of PWHs were treated on-demand before ICH occurred, suggesting the important role of prophylaxis in preventing such life-threatening bleeding.

Incidence and mortality rates of intracranial hemorrhage in hemophilia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe complication that is relatively common among hemophilia patients. This systematic review aimed to obtain more precise estimates of ICH incidence and mortality in hemophilia, which may be important for patients, caregivers, researchers and health policy-makers. PubMed and EMBASE were systematically searched using terms related to "hemophilia" and "intracranial hemorrhage" or "mortality". Studies that allowed calculation of ICH incidence or mortality rates in a hemophilia population of at least 50 patients were included. We summarized evidence on ICH incidence and calculated pooled ICH incidence and mortality in three age groups: (1) persons of all ages with hemophilia, (2) children and young adults below 25 years of age with hemophilia and (3) neonates with hemophilia. Incidence and mortality were pooled with a Poisson-Normal model or a Binomial-Normal model. We included 45 studies that represented 54 470 patients, 809 151 person-years and 5326 live births of hemophilia patients. In persons of all ages, the pooled ICH incidence and mortality rates were 2.3 (95% CI 1.2-4.8) and 0.8 (95% CI 0.5-1.2) per 1000 person-years, respectively. In children and young adults, the pooled ICH incidence and mortality rates were 7.4 (95% CI 4.9-11.1) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.9) per 1000 person-years, respectively. In neonates, the pooled cumulative ICH incidence was 2.1% (95% CI 1.5-2.8) per 100 live births. ICH was classified as spontaneous in 35-58% of cases. Our findings suggest that ICH is an important problem in hemophilia that occurs among all ages, requiring adequate preventive strategies.

Emicizumab prophylaxis in infants with severe haemophilia A without inhibitors: Illustrative real-world cases to support shared decision-making

INTRODUCTION

Emicizumab has been shown to be safe and effective for prevention of bleeds in patients with severe haemophilia A (SHA), both with and without inhibitors. The subcutaneous administration and long half-life make emicizumab an attractive option for prophylaxis in infants with SHA, however data to inform treatment decisions in this younger age group are almost absent.

AIM

The aim of this report is to share real world experience to illustrate how the availability of emicizumab has shifted the prophylaxis paradigm in the management of infants with SHA.

METHOD

We selected four cases from our own cohort of infants with SHA to outline the rationale for emicizumab prophylaxis in a range of scenarios familiar to paediatric haemophilia treaters.

RESULTS

In Case 1 emicizumab was commenced at 7 days following initial treatment of neonatal ICH with a FVIII infusion. In Case 2 emicizumab was commenced at 5 weeks due to parental anxiety regarding the potential for ICH during infancy. Case 3 commenced emicizumab at 15 months in lieu of standard primary prophylaxis. Case 4 switched to emicizumab prophylaxis at 14 months after a period of primary prophylaxis with FVIII concentrates to alleviate parental anxiety regarding future inhibitor development. No patient had any bleeding events after commencement of emicizumab (median follow up 12 months), and no drug-related adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

Despite the paucity of data in infants with SHA the potential role of emicizumab prophylaxis should be discussed with families when clinically relevant, with decisions tailored to individual need.