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Background: Intracranial hemorrhage is seen more frequently in acute leukemia patients compared to the general population. Besides leukemia‐related risk factors, also risk factors that are present in the general population might contribute to hemorrhagic complications in leukemia patients. Of those, cardiovascular risk factors leading to chronic vascular damage could modulate the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage in these patients, as during their disease and treatment acute endothelial damage occurs due to factors like thrombocytopenia and inflammation. Objectives: Our aim was to explore if cardiovascular risk factors can predict intracranial hemorrhage in acute leukemia patients. Methods: In a case‐control study nested in a cohort of acute leukemia patients, including 17 cases with intracranial hemorrhage and 55 matched control patients without intracranial hemorrhage, data on cardiovascular risk factors were collected for all patients. Analyses were performed via conditional logistic regression. Results: Pre‐existing hypertension and ischemic heart disease in the medical history were associated with intracranial hemorrhage, with an incidence rate ratio of 12.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5 to 109.2) and 12.1 (95% CI 1.3 to110.7), respectively. Conclusion: Both pre‐existing hypertension and ischemic heart disease seem to be strong predictors of an increased risk for intracranial hemorrhage in leukemia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There is scarce evidence about the effectiveness of anti‐bleeding measures in hematological outpatients experiencing persistent severe thrombocytopenia. We aim to describe clinical practice and clinicians' considerations on the administration of prophylactic platelet transfusions and tranexamic acid (TXA) to outpatients with acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or aplastic anemia (AA) in the Netherlands. Methods: We conducted an online survey among members of the Dutch Society for Hematology. Results: The survey was filled out by 73 respondents. Prophylactic platelet transfusions are widely used in acute leukemia and MDS outpatients receiving disease‐modifying treatments (87%‐98% of respondents). TXA is predominantly prescribed in case of bleeding (tendency) (71%‐88% of respondents). Conditions potentially increasing bleeding risks highly variably influence clinicians' decision making on anti‐bleeding regimens, which includes a wide range in adhered platelet thresholds. Conclusion: Considering that both the contribution of prophylactic platelet transfusions as well as TXA to limiting bleeding is insufficiently evidence‐based, there is an urgent need for trials on optimal anti‐bleeding strategies in this outpatient population, which should encompass efficacy, logistic, financial, and quality‐of‐life aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]