Albumin for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Intervention

We aim to determine the safety and explore the efficacy of human albumin as a neuroprotective (or cytoprotective) agent for the treatment of acute primary supratentorial ICH. Albumin therapy has been shown to be cytoprotective in animal studies of both ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, and in a phase II human study in ischemic stroke. To date no acute intervention (beyond supportive medical care) has been identified to improve outcomes in patients with primary ICH. Neuronal injury from a primary ICH is due not only to the space occupying effects of the hemorrhage but also due to the development of edema and toxicity from blood breakdown products in the subacute phase. Cytoprotective strategies targeted to limit blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and edema formation hold promise as treatment strategies to limit this injury. A number of MR imaging outcome markers demonstrating a potential neuroprotective effect include measures of hematoma volume, perihematomal edema, and blood brain barrier disruption. The term "hyperintense acute injury marker" (HARM) has been proposed to describe the radiologic finding of hyperintense signal within the cerebrospinal fluid spaces visualized on post-contrast fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI in patients with acute ischemic stroke. HARM has the potential to serve as a marker of blood brain barrier disruption in patients with primary ICH. The current study will involve serial MR imaging in ICH patients randomized to placebo vs. albumin to assess whether there are differences in the frequency of HARM and perihematomal edema in the albumin treated patients.