People who experience an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) face a high risk of stroke, blood clots, and long‑term disability. Current treatments often do not reduce these risks because antithrombotic medications are stopped for long periods after a brain bleed. As a result, there is a clear need for new treatment options that can improve vascular health and long‑term recovery after ICH.
Aristeidis Katsanos
Colchicine, an anti‑inflammatory medication, has shown benefits in preventing major cardiovascular events in randomized clinical trials without increasing the risk of bleeding. It works by lowering inflammation in blood vessels and plaques, which may reduce the risk of vascular events like heart attack or stroke over time. Its anti‑inflammatory effects make it a promising candidate to reduce secondary brain injury that can occur in the early period after an ICH.
“People after an intracerebral hemorrhage remain at high risk of stroke and other serious vascular complications, yet many of the medications we typically use to prevent clotting cannot be safely used because they may increase the risk of another brain bleed,” said Aristeidis Katsanos, principal investigator of the study and PHRI scientist.
The CoVasc‑ICH 2 randomized controlled trial, co-led by principal investigator and senior scientist Ashkan Shoamanesh, includes 1,125 people who have survived an ICH and have evidence of, or risk factors for, atherosclerosis, which is the gradual buildup of fatty material inside the arteries that narrows them and reduces blood flow to the heart, brain, and other organs. The study is testing whether a daily dose of 0.5 mg of colchicine, started within 72 hours of ICH onset, can reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and long‑term disability after a brain hemorrhage.
“If effective, this approach could provide a much‑needed way to improve outcomes after an intracerebral hemorrhage,” Katsanos added.
The study is sponsored by PHRI and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
