Purpose: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and extracranial hemorrhage (ECH) in newborns with hemophilia were reviewed with respect to incidence, anatomic location, clinical presentation, and relationship to the mode of delivery and type of hemophilia.
Materials and methods: A MEDLINE search from 1964 to 1996 of all reports of neonatal hemophilia and head bleeds in children from birth to 1 month old was performed. ICH was defined as any bleed occurring within the cranial cavity, and ECH was defined as hemorrhage occurring outside of the cranial cavity, including subgaleal and cephalhematoma. The mode of delivery, type and severity of hemophilia, and clinical presentation were also noted.
Results: One hundred two newborns with hemophilia and cranial bleeds were described in 33 publications. The cumulative incidence of ICH and ECH was 3.58% in 5 studies that reported the total newborn population or that examined birth records. The type of hemophilia was reported for 40 of 102 newborns and was hemophilia A in 87%. The mode of delivery was recorded in 46% (47 of 102) of the patients. Of these, 13% had cesarean delivery, and 87% were delivered vaginally (40% had spontaneous vaginal delivery, and 47% had vaginal delivery with vacuum extraction or forceps). There were 109 episodes of ICH and ECH (65% were ICH, 35% were ECH, and 5.8% were a combination of both). Common clinical features of ICH and ECH included anemia, hypotension, shock, and lethargy. However, only patients with ICH were reported to have neurologic deficits (15%) and late neurologic sequelae (38%).
Conclusion: In neonates with hemophilia and cranial bleeds, ICH occurs more often and is often associated with late neurologic deficits.