Timing of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Patients With Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Early or Delayed Initiation of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis With Heparin in Patients With Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

The objective of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and efficiency of different anticoagulation schemes with heparin for venous thromboembolism prevention in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• What is the optimal time for the beginning of anticoagulation with heparin to efficiently prevent venous thromboembolism in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage? Early beginning (within the first 2 days but not earlier than 12 hours after the admission of a patient) or delayed beginning (on the third day after the admission of a patient)?
• Which of the two timeframes (early or delayed) for anticoagulation beginning is the most safe in terms of bleeding complications including intracerebral hemorrhage expansion?

Researchers will compare the results of early and delayed start of anticoagulation using heparin in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage to define the optimal start time for anticoagulation that provides the most favourable efficiency/safety profile.

Participants will:

• Undergo a computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain on hospital admission and then 12-24 hours after the hospital admission and 24 hours after the beginning of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis using heparin;
• Undergo the ultrasound examination of lower extremity deep veins on hospital admission and then once every 7 days;
• Receive prophylactic doses of low molecular weight heparin or unfractionated heparin either beginning within the first 2 days but not earlier than 12 hours after the hospital admission or starting on the 3rd day after the hospital admission.

Inclusion Criteria:

• the presence of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage

Exclusion Criteria:

• Intracerebral hemorrhage expansion detected on the basis of a computed tomography scan of the brain 12-24 hours after a hospital admission (i.e. before the initiation of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with heparin)
• Being on an anticoagulant during preadmission period and on day of hospital admission
• Death within the first 2 days after hospital admission
• Detection of venous thromboembolism in a patient at the moment of hospital admission
• Surgical management of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage before the beginning of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis using heparin
• The presence of a malignancy (cancer) in a patient at the moment of hospital admission