Subarachnoid hemorrhage and negative angiography: clinical course and long-term follow-up

Neurosurg Rev. 2011 Oct;34(4):477-84. doi: 10.1007/s10143-011-0323-8. Epub 2011 May 24.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term natural history of nontraumatic angiogram-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage with typical pretruncal (P-SAH) and diffuse (D-SAH) pattern of hemorrhage. A retrospective review of 102 patients who experienced angiographically negative SAH at our institution was undertaken (11.6% of 882 spontaneous SAH). Follow-ups were obtained at 7.9 to 16 years. In the D-SAH group, 11 patients (13.9%) out of 79 had an aneurysm, and four (5.1%) had rebleeding episodes. In the P-SAH group, the second angiography was negative in all of the 23 cases, and no rebleeding episodes were recorded. The long-term follow-up confirms that P-SAH is a benign disease. A second angiography could not be necessary. D-SAH is probably due to an aneurysm that thrombose early after the bleeding. At short-term follow-up, the sack could frequently recanalize and rebleed, whereas a late follow-up shows that rebleeding is very rare.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology
  • Cerebral Angiography*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glasgow Outcome Scale
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / diagnosis
  • Hydrocephalus / etiology
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / diagnosis*
  • Thrombosis / complications
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
  • Vasospasm, Intracranial / diagnosis
  • Vasospasm, Intracranial / etiology