Effects of blood pressure and tranexamic acid in spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage: A secondary analysis of a large randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background Tranexamic acid reduced haematoma expansion and early death, but did not improve functional outcome in the tranexamic acid for hyperacute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage-2 (TICH-2) trial. In a predefined subgroup, there was a statistically significant interaction between prerandomisation baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the effect of tranexamic acid on functional outcome (p=0.019). Methods TICH-2 was an international prospective double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial evaluating intravenous tranexamic acid in patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Prerandomisation baseline SBP was split into predefined 170 mm Hg groups. The primary outcome at day 90 was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), a measure of dependency, analysed using ordinal logistic regression. Haematoma expansion was defined as an increase in haematoma volume of >33% or >6 mL from baseline to 24 hours. Data are OR or common OR (cOR) with 95% CIs, with significance at p170 mm Hg groups. The primary outcome at day 90 was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), a measure of dependency, analysed using ordinal logistic regression. Haematoma expansion was defined as an increase in haematoma volume of >33% or >6 mL from baseline to 24 hours. Data are OR or common OR (cOR) with 95% CIs, with significance at p170 mm Hg. Tranexamic acid was associated with a favourable shift in mRS at day 90 in those with baseline SBP170 mm Hg (cOR 1.05, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.30, p=0.63). In those with baseline SBP170 mm Hg (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.35, p=0.90). Conclusions Tranexamic acid was associated with improved clinical and radiological outcomes in ICH patients with baseline SBP170 mm Hg (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.35, p=0.90). Conclusions Tranexamic acid was associated with improved clinical and radiological outcomes in ICH patients with baseline SBPCopyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.