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In a trial published in 2005, recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven) improved clinical outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (Journal Watch Mar 8 2005). Now, industry-sponsored researchers have conducted a larger randomized international trial that involved 841 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who presented within 3 hours of symptom onset. Among numerous exclusion criteria were coagulopathies and use of oral anticoagulants.
Patients received rFVIIa (either 20 μg/kg or 80 µg/kg) or placebo. In a comparison of computed tomography scans done at baseline and at 24 hours after treatment, significantly less growth was noted in mean intracerebral hemorrhage volume in the 80-µg group than in the placebo group. Nevert…