It is more likely to result in death or major disability than ischemic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage, and therefore constitutes an immediate medical emergency.

Intracerebral hemorrhages and accompanying edema may disrupt or compress adjacent brain tissue, leading to neurological dysfunction.

Substantial displacement of brain parenchyma may cause elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) and potentially fatal herniation syndromes.

In the elderly population, amyloid angiopathy is associated with cerebral infarcts as well as hemorrhage in superficial locations, rather than deep white matter or basal ganglia.

Most cases of primary intraparenchymal hemorrhage are the result of chronic hypertension (high blood pressure), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, or both.

These are the arteries that supply blood to the basal ganglia, the thalamus, the brainstem, and deep portions of the cerebellum.

Unlike hypertension, cerebral amyloid angiopathy does not typically affect blood vessels to deep brain structures.

Medications may be used to reduce swelling, prevent seizures, lower blood pressure, and control pain.