Cerebrospinal Fluid Amyloid‐β Biomarkers Predict Future Hemorrhage in Patients with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Abstract
Objective Accurately predicting future hemorrhagic events in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) remains a major clinical challenge. It is unknown whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of amyloid‐beta (Aβ) pathology are associated with increased hemorrhage risk in this population. Methods We analyzed consecutive patients meeting Boston criteria version 2.0 for probable CAA with CSF Aβ data obtained during diagnostic workup. The primary outcome was incident intracranial hemorrhage, including lobar intracerebral, convexity subarachnoid, and non‐traumatic subdural hemorrhage. Secondary outcomes were ischemic stroke and all‐cause mortality. Associations between low CSF Aβ biomarkers and outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for disseminated cortical superficial siderosis, and prior intracerebral hemorrhage. Results Among 109 patients (median age: 77 years, 42% female), 16 (15%) experienced incident intracranial hemorrhage and 11 (10%) incident ischemic stroke during a median follow‐up of 2.93 years (interquartile range: 1.43–5.03). In multivariate Cox regression models low CSF Aβ biomarkers were independently associated with incident intracranial hemorrhage (Aβ 40 : hazard ratio: 8.04; [95% CI: 2.43–26.59], p < 0.001; Aβ 42 : hazard ratio 7.10; [95% CI: 1.58–32.00], p = 0.011). CSF Aβ biomarkers were not associated with incident ischemic strokes and all‐cause mortality. A composite risk score integrating low CSF Aβ biomarkers and hemorrhagic imaging features identified a high‐risk subgroup with 78% hemorrhage incidence (7/9 patients) and a no‐risk group without events (0/42 patients). Interpretation Low CSF Aβ biomarkers are independently associated with future symptomatic hemorrhage in CAA patients. A composite risk score may support individualized risk stratification and guide clinical decision‐making. ANN NEUROL 2026;100:391–399
Fields of Study & Subjects
Intracerebral and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research
Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
Amyloidosis: Diagnosis
Treatment
Outcomes
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Annals of Neurology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Volume
- 100
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 391–399
- Publication date
- 27 April 2026
- Language
- EN