What Are the Causes of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Newborns?

Question

A newborn has a bulging fontanelle shortly after birth, and a cranial CT scan reveals intraventricular hemorrhage and ventriculomegaly. What are the main causes of intracranial hemorrhage in newborns?

Answer

Intracranial hemorrhage in newborns, also known as hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease or hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by the rupture of blood vessels in the brain, leading to blood leakage into the cranial cavity. Depending on the location of the hemorrhage, it can be classified into intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and subdural hemorrhage. Intracranial hemorrhage in newborns is commonly associated with delivery injuries and hypoxia, and may also be related to diseases such as thrombocytopenic purpura, aplastic anemia, hemophilia, and late-stage vitamin K deficiency.