Repeated thalamic haemorrhage: case report and review of the literature

Recurrence of thalamic haemorrhage has rarely been reported. A 70-year-old woman had recurrent thalamic haemorrhage five-times during a period of 6 ye ars. The first, second and fifth haemorrhages were located in the right tha lamic region, and the third and fourth haemorrhages in the left thalamic re gion. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed n o abnormal lesion. After the first, second, and third haemorrhage with medi cal treatments, the patient recovered her functional ability or was at leas t capable of self-care at home. However, after the fourth and fifth haemorr hage, with medical therapy the patient's prognosis was severe disability. I n this case, systemic blood pressure was normalized without antihypertensiv e agents after the first attack. However, there was an episode of sudden hy pertension at each attack. Although the mechanism of rebleeding has not bee n clarified, rebleeding might be associated with changes of cerebral circul ation following the previous haemorrhage.