Intracranial Hemorrhage Associated with Nontraumatic Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

The authors report four cases of intracranial hemorrhage associated with nontraumatic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Two cases demonstrated a sudden onset of intracerebral hemorrhage. The other two showed chronic subdural hematoma initially, followed by acute multiple intracranial hemorrhages or general hemorrhagic diathesis. The underlying disorders were glioblastoma multiforme, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, acute promyelocytic leukemia, and stomach cancer associated with disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow. All patients died eventually. When the underlying disorder has a rare incidence of DIC as in glioblastoma multiforme or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, the possibility of DIC and the need for immediate initiation of replacement therapy should be recognized, although the mortality is very high because the underlying disorder cannot be eliminated quickly. When the underlying disorder has a high incidence of DIC as in acute promyelocytic leukemia or disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow, it is mandatory to start replacement therapy and treatment for the underlying disorder simultaneously. DIC can be controlled when the treatment for the underlying disorder is effective.