Arteriopathy of deep penetrating arteries (arteriolosclerosis): basal ganglia, thalamus, brainstem, cerebellum. Most common type of intracerebral hemorrhage. Greatest risk factor is chronic hypertension. Other risk factors: increasing age, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, low serum cholesterol, selected ethnicities (African, Hispanic, Asian origin).

Amyloid angiopathy: recurrent intracerebral hemorrhages, usually after fifth decade, particularly lobar in location. Dementia in 30%.

Other causes: brain tumor, sympathomimetic drugs, coagulopathies, treatment with anticoagulants or fibrinolytic
agents, arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms, cavernous angiomas, moyamoya disease, trauma, illicit drug abuse.