A basal ganglia hemorrhage is bleeding from blood vessels in an area of the brain responsible for body movements, sensation, speech and personality. Most often, an artery in the basal ganglia bursts after being damaged due to the effects of high blood pressure. This type of event in the brain is sometimes referred to as a stroke. The area of the basal ganglia is the part of the brain most frequently affected by hemorrhages. A brain hemorrhage causes blood to accumulate inside the brain, compressing and damaging brain tissue.

While the main cause of bleeding into the basal ganglia is high blood pressure, other causes of basal ganglia hemorrhage include rupture of an aneurysm, or weak spot, in a blood vessel wall and bursting of an abnormal mass of arteries and veins joined together, known as an arteriovenous malformation. Injuries, tumors, infections, and blood abnormalities can also cause bleeding in the basal ganglia. Older people are at greater risk of experiencing a basal ganglia hemorrhage, and the risk doubles every ten years from the age of 55.

Initial symptoms of a basal ganglia hemorrhage could involve loss of consciousness, headaches, nausea and vomiting, or fits. Loss of sensation and movement may occur in certain parts of the body, eye movements can be affected, and part of the field of vision could disappear. A person might have difficulty speaking or may speak freely using the wrong words. Sometimes, as well as having speech problems, an individual might find it hard to understand what is being said by others.

A basal ganglia hemorrhage can lead to personality changes. Depression, loss of interest in life and lack of motivation may be experienced. Difficulty in understanding situations can lead to anxiety or frustration. People may become emotional for no apparent reason or in response to things which would not have affected them before.

Treating a basal ganglia hemorrhage involves supporting the patient while the event is occurring. Unconscious patients may require artificial ventilation to help them breathe. Some types of hemorrhage may be managed using surgery to remove the accumulated blood from the brain but, when high blood pressure has caused a basal ganglia bleed, surgical treatment is not usually carried out.

Medication may be given into a vein to help lower blood pressure, reduce the pressure of fluid in the brain, and prevent seizures. Drugs may also be used to reduce headaches and fever and restore normal blood clotting. The outlook following a basal ganglia hemorrhage depends on the size and location of the bleed, but controlling high blood pressure can help prevent some strokes from occurring.