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Background: Early repair of the ruptured cerebral aneurysm (RRCA), preferably within 24 h of onset, is endorsed by clinical guideline as the preferred management strategy for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, a comprehensive picture of this guideline-recommended usage in contemporary clinical practice is not available., Aims: This study aimed to characterize trends over time and practice variation in the implementation of an early RRCA strategy among patients with aSAH in a large, national representative data., Methods: Using data from the 2012-2019 National Inpatient Sample, we measured trends in the proportion of early RRCA, defined as within day 1 of admission, overall, and by demographic and geographical subgroups. In addition, we created multilevel regression models to quantify hospital-level variation in the early RRCA rates., Results: We identified 82,615 aSAH hospitalizations (mean age = 56.1 years; 68.9% women) undergoing RRCA and, among these, 84.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 83.4-84.7%) receiving early RRCA. The proportion of early RRCA increased steadily from 82.5% in 2012 to 85.8% in 2019 ( p for trend <0.001). The proportion of patients receiving early RRCA across geographic regions ranged from 78.7% to 87.9%, with a median (interquartile range (IQR)) of 84.2% (83.0-86.1%). In contrast, the delivery of early RRCA varied widely among hospitals, with a median (IQR) rate of 86.1% (75.0-100.0%) and a range from 0% to 100.0%. The median odds ratio for the early use of RRCA treatment was 1.24 (95% CI = 1.21-1.27) in 2019, indicating 24% increased odds of implementing early RRCA if moving from a lower-use to a higher-use hospital., Conclusions: Most patients in the United States with aSAH received early RRCA treatment and exhibited an upward trend over the recent 8-year period. However, substantial variation in access to early RRCA was observed across population subgroups, particularly at the hospital level. Future efforts are necessary to identify further sources of this variation and to develop initiatives that could represent an opportunity to optimize guideline-based quality of care in aSAH management., Data Access Statement: The data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request following completion of onboarding and verification procedures as specified by the HCUP., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: In aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms (aSAH-MIA patients), the risk of secondary unruptured intracranial aneurysms is inconsistent. This study aimed to explore the risk of unruptured aneurysms in Chinese aSAH-MIA patients., Methods: The medical records and angiographic images of aSAH-MIA patients from eight cerebrovascular centers in China were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Patients with a single unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) and no prior aSAH were used as controls. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to balance the differences in age, gender, aneurysm size, aneurysm site, and follow-up duration between the two groups., Results: The study included 267 unruptured aneurysms from 204 aSAH-MIA patients and 769 single UIA. After PSM, 201 aneurysms were enrolled in the aSAH-MIA group and 201 aneurysms in the control group. The mean follow-up was 2.2 years. Thirty-four aneurysm instability events (28 growth and 6 rupture, 16.9%) occurred during follow-up in the aSAH-MIA group and 16 instability events (13 growth and 3 rupture, 8%) occurred in the control group. Risk factors for aneurysmal instability were aneurysm irregularity (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.18 to 4.31), higher size ratio (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.37 to 4.39), and middle cerebral artery location (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.03 to 3.17). The risk of aneurysmal instability was substantially elevated in the aSAH-MIA group (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.12 to 3.02)., Conclusions: Unruptured aneurysms in Chinese aSAH-MIA patients exhibited higher risks of growth and rupture than in patients with a single UIA. Middle cerebral artery location, higher size ratio and irregular shape were associated with higher risk of growth or rupture., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Subarachnoid haemorrhages (SAH) caused by rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IA) are a severe condition. Earlier studies found a higher incidence of SAH in Greenlandic patients compared to Danish patients, with familial aggregation also higher in Greenland. However, updated data is lacking. To investigate the contemporary incidence, outcome, and familial disposition of SAH/IA in Greenlandic patients in 2018-2021. Greenlandic patients diagnosed with ruptured or unruptured IA (UIA) during 2018-2021 were included. Data was obtained from patient files, x-ray department, and discharge registry. Incidence rates were estimated as cases/100,000/year. Direct age-standardised incidence rates were calculated using WHO 2000-2025 as standards. Of 30 SAH patients, 20 (66.7%) were females, 10 (33.3%) males. Of 36 UIA patients, 27 (75.0%) were females, 9 (25.0%) males. For SAH, crude incidence was 13.4/100,000/year, age-standardised incidence was 10.8/100,000/year. Familial history was observed in 30.0% of SAH patients. 5 patients (16.7%) died before treatment, 28-day case-fatality rate (CFR) for all patients was 23.3%. Overall and age-standardised incidence rates were similar to previous studies but higher among females and compared to neighbouring countries. A high occurrence of familial history was reported. SAH remains a serious condition in Greenland, as evidenced by five fatalities before treatment was administered.

Background and Objectives : The rising incidence of modifiable lifestyle risk factors and cardiovascular diseases, driven by poor diet, inactivity, excessive alcohol use, and smoking, may influence the development and rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IA). This study aimed to examine the impact of lifestyle-related and cardiovascular risk factors on IA rupture and patient outcomes. Materials and Methods : We developed the "MARVIN" (Metabolic and Adverse Risk Factors and Vices Influencing Intracranial Aneurysms) model and conducted a retrospective analysis of 303 patients with 517 IAs, treated between 2007 and 2020. Of these, 225 patients were analyzed for rupture status and 221 for clinical outcomes. The analysis focused on hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, vascular diseases, nicotine and alcohol abuse, obesity, aneurysm rupture status, and clinical outcomes. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the impact of these risk factors. Results : Among those with risk factors, 24.9% (56/225) and 25.3% (56/221) had one, 32.0% (72/225) and 30.8% (68/221) had two, 20.0% (45/225) and 20.4% (45/221) had three, 12.0% (27/225) and 12.2% (27/221) had four, 4.0% (9/225) and 4.1% (9/221) had five, 0.9% (2/225) had six in both groups, and 0.4% (1/225) and 0.5% (1/221) had seven risk factors, respectively. Strong relationships were found between lifestyle-related vascular risk factors, indicating multiple comorbidities in patients with unhealthy habits. Smokers with ruptured aneurysms had higher WFNS (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies) scores, but nicotine abuse did not affect long-term outcomes. The most significant predictors for poor outcomes were WFNS score and age, while age and a history of vascular diseases were protective against rupture. Despite the high prevalence of modifiable risk factors, they did not significantly influence rupture risk. Conclusions : The findings suggest a need for multifactorial risk assessment strategies in managing IA patients. Future studies with larger cohorts are required to confirm these results and better understand IA progression.

Objectives: Arterial calcification is thought to protect against rupture of intracranial aneurysms, but studies in a representative population of intracranial aneurysm patients have not yet been performed. The aim was to compare the prevalence of aneurysm wall calcification and intracranial carotid artery calcification (ICAC) between patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) and a ruptured intracranial aneurysm (RIA)., Materials and Methods: We matched 150 consecutive UIA patients to 150 RIA patients on age and sex. Aneurysm wall calcification and ICAC were quantified on non-contrast enhanced computed tomography images with the modified Agatston score. We compared the prevalence of aneurysm wall calcification, ICAC, and severe ICAC (defined as a modified Agatston score in the fourth quartile) between UIA and RIA patients using univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression models adjusted for aneurysm characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors., Results: Aneurysm wall calcification was more prevalent in UIA compared to RIA patients (OR 5.2, 95% CI: 2.0-13.8), which persisted after adjustment (OR 5.9, 95% CI: 1.7-20.2). ICAC prevalence did not differ between the two groups (crude OR 0.9, 95% CI: 0.5-1.8). Severe ICAC was more prevalent in UIA patients (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.6), but not after adjustment (OR 1.0, 95% CI: 0.5-2.3)., Conclusions: Aneurysm wall calcification but not ICAC was more prevalent in UIAs than in RIAs, which corresponds to the hypothesis that calcification may protect against aneurysmal rupture. Aneurysm wall calcification should be further assessed as a predictor of aneurysm stability in prospective cohort studies., Clinical Relevance Statement: Calcification of the intracranial aneurysm wall was more prevalent in unruptured than ruptured intracranial aneurysms after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Calcification may therefore protect the aneurysm against rupture, and aneurysm wall calcification is a candidate predictor of aneurysm stability., Key Points: Aneurysm wall calcification was more prevalent in patients with unruptured than ruptured aneurysms, while internal carotid artery calcification was similar. Aneurysm wall calcification but not internal carotid artery calcification is a candidate predictor of aneurysm stability. Cohort studies are needed to assess the predictive value of aneurysm wall calcification for aneurysm stability., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study was developed to explore the incidence of multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) infections among ruptured intracranial aneurysms(RIA) patient with hospital-acquired pneumonia(HAP) in the neurological intensive care unit (NICU), and to establish risk factors related to the development of these infections., Methods: We collected clinical and laboratory data from 328 eligible patients from January 2018 to December 2022. Bacterial culture results were used to assess MDRO strain distributions, and risk factors related to MDRO infection incidence were identified through logistic regression analyses. These risk factors were further used to establish a predictive model for the incidence of MDRO infections, after which this model underwent internal validation., Results: In this study cohort, 26.5 % of RIA patients with HAP developed MDRO infections (87/328). The most common MDRO pathogens in these patients included Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (34.31 %) and Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (27.45 %). Six MDRO risk factors, namely, diabetes (P = 0.032), tracheotomy (P = 0.004), history of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.033), lower albumin levels (P < 0.001), hydrocephalus (P < 0.001) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤8 (P = 0.032) were all independently correlated with MDRO infection incidence. The prediction model exhibited satisfactory discrimination (area under the curve [AUC], 0.842) and calibration (slope, 1.000), with a decision curve analysis further supporting the clinical utility of this model., Conclusions: In summary, risk factors and bacterial distributions associated with MDRO infections among RIA patients with HAP in the NICU were herein assessed. The developed predictive model can aid clinicians to identify and screen high-risk patients for preventing MDRO infections., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The demographic, clinical, and angiographic features of ruptured aneurysms compared to unruptured cerebral aneurysms in Indonesia are still limited. This study aims to determine risk factors for rupture according to clinical patterns and morphological features in the Indonesian population., Method: We retrospectively reviewed all cerebral aneurysm registries at the largest comprehensive stroke center in Indonesia from January 2019 to January 2022. We compared demographic and vascular risk factors as well as angiographic features between patients with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms with univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Of 275 patients, 231 (84%) had ruptured cerebral aneurysms. We found a significant difference between the ruptured and unruptured groups in variables such as age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, location, and type of aneurysm. It was found that only the anterior circulation site (OR 4.91, 95% CI 1.47-16.48; p  < 0.01) and saccular type (OR 5.45, 95% CI 1.42-20.93; p  = 0.01) were significantly linked to ruptured aneurysms., Conclusion: Our findings revealed that anterior location and saccular type were substantially linked with ruptured aneurysms in the Indonesian population.

Background: Aneurysm location is a key element in predicting the rupture risk of an intracranial aneurysm. A common impression suggests that pure ophthalmic aneurysms are under-represented in ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs). The purpose of this study was to specifically evaluate the risk of rupture of ophthalmic aneurysms compared with other aneurysm locations., Methods: This multicenter study compared the frequency of ophthalmic aneurysms in a prospective cohort of RIAs admitted to 13 neuroradiology centers between January 2021 and March 2021, with a retrospective cohort of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) who underwent cerebral angiography at the same neuroradiology centers during the same time period., Results: 604 intracranial aneurysms were included in this study (355 UIAs and 249 RIAs; mean age 57 years (IQR 49-65); women 309/486, 64%). Mean aneurysm size was 6.0 mm (5.3 mm for UIAs, 7.0 mm for RIAs; P<0.0001). Aneurysm shape was irregular for 37% UIAs and 73% RIAs (P<0.0001). Ophthalmic aneurysms frequency was 14.9% of UIAs (second most common aneurysm location) and 1.2% of RIAs (second least common aneurysm location; OR 0.07 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.23), P<0.0001)., Conclusions: Ophthalmic aneurysms seem to have a low risk of rupture compared with other intracranial aneurysm locations. This calls for a re-evaluation of the benefit-risk balance when considering preventive treatment for ophthalmic aneurysms., Competing Interests: Competing interests: FC is a consultant for Medtronic, Balt Extrusion, Penumbra, Microvention, and Stryker; board member of Artedrone, and has stock options with Intradys and Collavidence. GM is a consultant for Stryker Neurovascular, Balt, Microvention Europe, and Sim and Cure, and has done paid lectures for Medtronic, Phenox, Johnson & Johnson, and Bracco. KJ is a consultant for Balt. AR is a consultant for Balt, Medtronic, Microvention, and Stryker. N-AS is a consultant for Balt, Medtronic Extrusion, and Microvention., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Smoking and observed growth of intracranial aneurysms are known risk factors for rupture. The mechanism by which smoking increases this risk is not completely elucidated. Furthermore, an association between smoking and aneurysm growth has not been clearly defined in the literature. We hypothesize that smoking is associated with aneurysm growth, which, in turn, may serve as one of the mechanisms by which smoking drives rupture risk., Methods: We report a systematic review of the literature in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Using the R software, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between smoking and the growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Studies on familial aneurysms and genetic syndromes known to increase the risk of aneurysms were excluded., Results: Eighteen observational studies were included with a total of 3535 patients and 4289 aneurysms with a mean follow-up period ranging from 17 to 226 months. The mean age among the studies ranged from 38.4 to 73.9 years; 74% of patients were female. Ever-smoking status (odds ratio, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.87-1.38]) and current smoking status (odds ratio, 1.43 [95% CI, 0.84-2.43]) did not show a statistically significant association with growth of intracranial aneurysms. Patients currently smoking did not have a statistically significant association with the growth of intracranial aneurysms (odds ratio, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.72-1.93]) compared with patients without a smoking history. No significant association was found in patients who previously smoked compared with patients who never smoked (odds ratio, 1.46 [95% CI, 0.88-2.43])., Conclusions: Smoking is not clearly associated with the growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, despite trends being observed, there is no statistical association. The mechanism by which smoking increases rupture risk might not be growth. In patients for whom observation is recommended, the absence of growth over time in the setting of smoking history does not, therefore, imply protection from rupture., Competing Interests: None.

Background: In recent years there have been significant advances in the diagnosis, management and treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in Italy. Changes in prevalence of several epigenetic risk factors in the population as well as in environmental factors may have influenced the epidemiological burden of this disease. No long-term, population-based study about the incidence of treated ruptured IAs (rIAs) in Italy has yet been reported in literature., Methods: A long-term (January 2015December 2020), nationwide epidemiology study was performed by using discharge data collected by the Italian National Agency for Regional Healthcare Services with a particular focus on the treatment incidence of rIAs. A sub-analysis per macro-areas (north, center, and south and islands) was also performed, including the data about regional healthcare systems organization. The prevalence of common epigenetic and environmental risk factors has been also assessed., Results: Over 6 years, the mean incidence of rIAs treatment was 2.7x100,000 per year (SD±0.1; range: 2.6-2.9). In 2020, there was a significant north-south decreasing gradient in incidence (north vs. center vs. south and islands: 3.4 vs. 2.4 vs. 1.8x100,000/year; all P<0.001). There were no meaningful differences between macro-areas in terms of access to emergency care and number of neurosurgical wards per population. The rate of unruptured IAs (uIAs) treatment did not show a correlation to that of ruptured ones. Minor regional differences were retrieved for high-risk hypertension as well as for alcohol abuse prevalence. Air pollutants and temperature charts showed a north-south gradient similar to that of the incidence in the treated rIAs., Conclusions: The mean incidence of treated rIAs was stable over the 2015-2020 period in Italy. A north-south decreasing gradient in rIAs treatment incidence was reported. Neither the Regional healthcare organizations nor the rate of uIAs treatment were significant factors explaining the regional differences in the incidence of rIAs treatment. Minor differences in epigenetic and environmental risk factors may be synergistically involved.

Magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (MR-VWI) is an emerging imaging technology used to assess the progressive risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Unlike the standard evaluation model, MR-VWI is still debatable. This study aims to further define the potential relationship between aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) and aneurysm stability. Using "intracranial aneurysm", "magnetic resonance", and "enhancement" as keywords, relevant studies were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane, and the qualified studies were enrolled for further analysis. There were 13 case-control studies, 4 cohort studies, and 2,678 cases of intracranial aneurysms included in the meta-analysis. It was shown that AWE was correlated with intracranial aneurysm rupture (OR = 35.90, 95% CI: 15.58 to 82.75, p < 0.001), growth (OR = 6.69, 95% CI: 2.69 to 16.63, p < 0.001), and presence of symptoms (OR = 14.46, 95% CI: 9.07 to 23.05, p < 0.001). This finding had a high diagnostic value, but the correlation was probably not independent of aneurysm size. The pooled relative risks of the follow-up studies revealed that the risk of UIA progression was approximately 3.33 times higher with AWE than without AWE (RR = 3.33, 95% CI: 2.33 to 4.78, p < 0.001). In addition, the pooled results demonstrated that quantitative indices of VWI enhancement were equally linked with aneurysm stability (OR = 19.61, 95% CI: 10.63 to 36.17, p < 0.001). AWE is an effective imaging method to assess the stability of UIAs, and it can be a marker for the prophylactic treatment of small unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the future, which remains to be validated by prospective studies with large samples., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: There is no non-invasive treatment to prevent aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH) caused by intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture. We aimed to identify drug classes that may affect liability to IA using a genetic approach., Patients and Methods: Using genome-wide association summary statistics we calculated genetic correlation between unruptured IA ( N  = 2140 cases), ASAH ( N  = 5140) or the combined group, and liability to drug usage from 23 drug classes ( N up to 320,000) independent of the risk factor high blood pressure. Next, we evaluated the causality and therapeutic potential of correlated drug classes using three different Mendelian randomization frameworks., Results: Correlations with IA were found for antidepressants, paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, opioids, beta-blockers, and peptic ulcer and gastro-esophageal reflux disease drugs. MR showed no evidence that genetically predicted usage of these drug classes caused IA. Genetically predicted high responders to antidepressant drugs were at higher risk of IA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-2.39, p  = 0.018) and ASAH (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.07-2.65, p  = 0.024) if they used antidepressant drugs. This effect was absent in non-users. For beta-blockers, additional analyses showed that this effect was not independent of blood pressure after all. A complex and likely pleiotropic relationship was found between genetic liability to chronic multisite pain, pain medication usage (paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, and opioids), and IA., Conclusions: We did not find drugs decreasing liability to IA and ASAH but found that antidepressant drugs may increase liability. We observed pleiotropic relationships between IA and other drug classes and indications. Our results improve understanding of pathogenic mechanisms underlying IA., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) in Japan has recently decreased. However, trends in the annual rates of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) are unclear because calculations based on follow-up periods are limited to patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. We aimed to clarify current trends in the estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs in Japan and to identify the most relevant contributing factors. We analyzed data from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and records of the Japan Neurosurgical Society. The estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs between 2003 and 2018 were calculated according to age-adjusted mortality rates of SAH and number of treated ruptured cerebral aneurysms (RCAs). We estimated trends in annual rupture rates using sensitivity analysis and assessed associations between estimated annual rupture rates and the prevalences of hypertension and current smoking. The estimated annual rupture rate of UCAs significantly decreased from 1.44 to 0.87% and from 0.92 to 0.76%, respectively, in terms of age-adjusted mortality rates of SAH and number of treated RCAs (p < 0.001). The range of changes in estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs was - 1.13%‒0.83%, representing a declining UCA trend of 88%. The estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs declined by 0.02-0.10% and 0.01-0.05% with every percent decrease in hypertension and current smoking prevalence, respectively. The estimated annual rupture rate of UCAs has recently decreased in Japan, possibly due to a decrease in the prevalence of hypertension rather than smoking., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Concomitant unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) in patients with craniopharyngioma (CP) pose a challenge for surgical management. This study presents the largest known single-institution case series to investigate the incidence of UIA in CP patients, with the aim of exploring the potential risk factors for the occurrence of UIA in CP patients and proposing treatment strategies., Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 289 adult CP patients treated in their department between January 2020 and August 2022. Routine CT angiography (CTA) was performed preoperatively in all cases. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of aneurysms. Aneurysms with the following characteristics were considered to have a high risk of intraoperative rupture and required treatment before tumor resection: 1) preliminary assessment of a high inherent risk of rupture (risk of rupture in their natural progression); and 2) location close to the tumor, irregular shape, and/or growth toward the tumor, even if the preliminary assessment indicated a low inherent risk of rupture., Results: Twenty-three of 289 CP patients (7.96%, 95% CI 5.36-11.6) were diagnosed with both CP and UIA (CP-UIA). Hypertension (OR 4.148, 95% CI 1.654-10.398; p = 0.002), estrogen deficiency (OR 3.097, 95% CI 1.241-7.731; p = 0.015), and suprasellar tumor (OR 4.316, 95% CI 1.596-11.67; p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in CP patients. Among the 23 CP-UIA patients, 6 (26.1%) with a high risk of aneurysm rupture underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) before tumor resection. Seventeen (73.9%) patients with a low risk of rupture underwent tumor resection only., Conclusions: The incidence rate of IA in patients with CP was higher than that in the general population. Routine preoperative CTA is advised for adult CP patients. Patients with papillary CP exhibited a higher proportion of CP-UIAs. Older age, hypertension, estrogen deficiency, and suprasellar tumor were independent risk factors for the occurrence of IAs in CP patients. IAs in CP patients are predominantly located in the C6 and C7 segments of the internal carotid artery and are often suitable for EVT. When treating CP-UIAs, tumor-related symptoms, risk of aneurysm rupture, the spatial relationship between the tumor and IA, and the approach for tumor resection should be considered.

Background: Improved endovascular methods make it possible to treat complex ruptured aneurysms, but surgery is still needed in certain cases. We evaluated the effects on the clinical results of the changes in aneurysm treatment., Methods: The study cohort was 837 patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and one or multiple aneurysms, admitted to Dept of Neurosurgery, Uppsala University Hospital from 2012 to 2021. Demography, location and treatment of aneurysms, neurologic condition at admission and discharge, mortality and last tier treatment of high intracranial pressure (ICP) was evaluated. Functional outcome was measured using the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) Data concerning national incidences of stroke diseases was collected from open Swedish databases., Results: Endovascular methods were used in 666 cases (79.6%). In 111 (13.3%) with stents. Surgery was performed in 115 cases (13.7%) and 56 patients (6.7%) had no aneurysm treatment. The indications for surgery were a hematoma (51 cases, 44.3%), endovascular treatment not considered safe (47 cases, 40.9%), or had been attempted without success (13 cases, 11.3%). Treatment with stent devices increased, and with surgery decreased over time. There was a trend in decrease in hemicraniectomias over time. Both the patient group admitted awake (n = 681) and unconscious (n = 156) improved significantly in consciousness between admission and discharge. Favorable outcome (GOSE 5-8) was seen in 69% for patients admitted in Hunt & Hess I-II and 25% for Hunt & Hess III-V. Mortality at one year was 10.9% and 42.7% for those admitted awake and unconscious, respectively.The number of cases decreased during the study period, which was in line with Swedish national data., Conclusions: The incidence of patients with SAH gradually decreased in our material, in line with national data. The treatment policy in our unit has been shifting to more use of endovascular methods. During the study period the use of hemicraniectomies decreased., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Treatment modality for ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms has shifted during the last two decades from microsurgical treatment towards endovascular treatment. We present how this transition happened in a large European neurovascular center., Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study consecutive patients treated for an unruptured or ruptured intracranial aneurysm at Helsinki University Hospital during 2012-2022. We used Poisson regression analysis to report age-adjusted treatment trends by aneurysm location and rupture status., Results: A total of 2491 patients with intracranial aneurysms were treated (44% ruptured, 56% unruptured): 1421 (57%) surgically and 1070 (43%) endovascularly. A general trend towards fewer treated aneurysms was noted. The proportion of patients treated surgically decreased from 90% in 2012 to 20% in 2022. The age-adjusted decrease of surgical versus endovascular treatment was 6.9%/year for all aneurysms, 6.8% for ruptured aneurysms, and 6.8% for unruptured aneurysms. The decrease of surgical treatment was most evident in unruptured vertebrobasilar aneurysms (10.8%/year), unruptured communicating artery aneurysms (10.1%/year), ruptured communicating artery aneurysms (10.0%/year), and ruptured internal carotid aneurysms (9.0%/year). There was no change in treatment modality for middle cerebral artery aneurysms, of which 85% were still surgically treated in 2022. A trend towards an increasing size for treated ruptured aneurysms was found (p = 0.033)., Conclusion: A significant shift of the treatment modality from surgical to endovascular treatment occurred for all aneurysm locations except for middle cerebral artery aneurysms. Whether this shift has affected long-term safety and patient outcomes should be assessed in the future., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Objectives: Some studies have shown that female patients had a poorer prognosis after endovascular treatment for ruptured intracranial aneurysm than male patients. However, data have been sparse regarding differences in the periprocedural and perioperative complication rate with ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms., Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry, a database of 9 institutions in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The study presented intracranial aneurysms after microsurgical and/or endovascular treatment from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2022. The primary outcome was incidence of periprocedural cerebral infarction. Secondary outcomes were periprocedural intracranial hemorrhage, periprocedural mortality, perioperative vasospasm, and functional outcome at 90 days after procedure., Results: Among 3342 patients with aneurysm, 2447 were female and 857 were male, and the mean age of female and male patients was 59.6 and 57.1 years, respectively. Current smoker, family history of aneurysm, and ruptured aneurysm were observed in 23.5% vs 35.7 %, 10.8 % vs 5.7%, and 28.2% vs 40.5% of female and male patients, respectively. In female patients, internal carotid artery aneurysms were more commonly observed (31.1% vs 17.3%); however, anterior cerebral artery aneurysms were less commonly observed (18.5% vs 33.8%) compared with male patients. Periprocedural cerebral infarction rate was lower in female than male patients (2.4% vs 4.4%; P = .002). The adjusted odds ratio of primary outcome of female to male patients was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.46-1.12). Incidence of periprocedural intracranial hemorrhage and periprocedural mortality and perioperative symptomatic vasospasm and functional outcome was similar in both groups. In subgroup analysis, periprocedural cerebral infarction due to microsurgical treatment occurred frequently in male patients while incidence in endovascular treatment was similar in both groups (interaction P = .005)., Conclusion: This large multicenter registry of patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm treatment found that female patients were not at increased risk of perioperative complications., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2023. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Cerebral aneurysms (CAs) are linked to variations in the cerebral basal arterial network (CBAN). This study aimed to find the optimal age for screening to detect brain arterial variations and predict aneurysms before rupture., Design: An observational, quantitative and retrospective research., Setting: The study analysed 1127 cases of CAs published from 1761 to 1938. Additionally, CT angiography images of 173-patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH), South Australia between 2011 and 2019 were examined for the presence and the location of aneurysms in CBAN., Participants: The data were collected from patients at RAH and 407 published sources, including males and females across the entire age range, up to 100 years old., Outcome Measures and Results: Data, CAs cases, from 1761 to 1938 included (526 males, 573 females and 28 unknown sexes). The age of these patients varied from 18 months to 89 years (mean age=42, SD=18). Approximately 11.5% of the CAs occurred in patients aged <20 years. Among the 1078 aneurysms whose location was reported, 76% were located in the internal carotid (IC), middle cerebral (MC) and anterior communicating artery complex (AcomAC) regions, while the remaining 24% were in the vertebrobasilar region. Among 173 patients from RAH aged between 18 and 100 years (male=83 and female=90, mean age=60, SD=16), 94% of the CAs were found in the IC, MC and AcomAC regions. The pattern of aneurysm occurrence, as indicated by values at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles, along with the minimum and maximum patient ages, has remained consistent from 1761 to 2019., Conclusion: The distribution pattern of CAs in relation to sex, age and locations in the CBAN, remained steady over the last 260 years resulting in risk of strokes early in life. Therefore, early screening for CBAN segment variations is advised for stroke prevention if possible., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) represent a severe cerebrovascular disease that can potentially lead to subarachnoid haemorrhage. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of peripheral immune cells in the formation and progression of IAs. Nevertheless, the impact of metabolic alterations in peripheral immune cells and changes in neutrophil heterogeneity on the occurrence and progression of IAs remains uncertain., Methods: Single-cell Cytometry by Time-of-Flight (CyTOF) technology was employed to profile the single-cell atlas of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) in 72 patients with IAs. In a matched cohort, metabolic shifts in PBMC subsets of IA patients were investigated by contrasting the expression levels of key metabolic enzymes with their respective counterparts in the healthy control group. Simultaneously, compositional differences in peripheral blood PMNs subsets between the two groups were analysed to explore the impact of altered heterogeneity in neutrophils on the initiation and progression of IAs. Furthermore, integrating immune features based on CyTOF analysis and clinical characteristics, we constructed an aneurysm occurrence model and an aneurysm growth model using the random forest method in conjunction with LASSO regression., Results: Different subsets exhibited distinct metabolic characteristics. Overall, PBMCs from patients elevated CD98 expression and increased proliferation. Conversely, CD36 was up-regulated in T cells, B cells and monocytes from the controls but down-regulated in NK and NKT cells. The comparison also revealed differences in the metabolism and function of specific subsets between the two groups. In terms of PMNs, the neutrophil landscape within patients group revealed a pronounced shift towards heightened complexity. Various neutrophil subsets from the IA group generally exhibited lower expression levels of anti-inflammatory functional molecules (IL-4 and IL-10). By integrating clinical and immune features, the constructed aneurysm occurrence model could precisely identify patients with IAs with high prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.987). Furthermore, the aneurysm growth model also exhibited superiority over ELAPSS scores in predicting aneurysm growth (lower prediction errors and out-of-bag errors)., Conclusion: These findings enhanced our understanding of peripheral immune cell participation in aneurysm formation and growth from the perspectives of immune metabolism and neutrophil heterogeneity. Moreover, the predictive model based on CyTOF features holds the potential to aid in diagnosing and monitoring the progression of human IAs., (© 2024 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Shanghai Institute of Clinical Bioinformatics.)

Background and Objectives: There is emerging evidence on the connection between pre-eclampsia and saccular intracranial aneurysms (sIAs). Our aim was to study the prevalence of pre-eclampsia in sIA patients, their female relatives, and matched controls, and to examine familial sIA disease and familial pre-eclampsia in sIA patients' families., Methods: We included all female sIA patients in the Kuopio Intracranial Aneurysm Patient and Family Database from 1995 to 2018. First, we identified the sIA patients, their female relatives, and matched population controls with the first birth in 1987 or later and studied the prevalence of pre-eclampsia. Second, all female sIA patients and all female relatives were analyzed for familial sIA disease and familial pre-eclampsia. Using the Finnish nationwide health registries, we obtained data on drug purchases, hospital diagnoses, and causes of death., Results: In total, 265 sIA patients, 57 daughters, 167 sisters, 169 nieces, and 546 matched controls had the first birth in 1987 or later. Among them, 29 (11%) sIA patients, 5 (9%) daughters, 10 (6%) sisters, 10 (6%) nieces, and 32 (6%) controls had pre-eclampsia. Of all the 1895 female sIA patients and 12,141 female relatives, 68 sIA patients and 375 relatives had pre-eclampsia, including 32 families with familial pre-eclampsia., Conclusions: Pre-eclampsia was significantly more common in the sIA patients than in their matched controls. Familial sIA disease and familial pre-eclampsia co-occurred in seven families. Further studies of the mechanisms by which pre-eclampsia could affect the walls of brain arteries and increase the rupture risk in sIA disease are indicated., (© 2023 The Authors. European Journal of Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Neurology.)

Background: Presently, a consistent strategy for determining the stability of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) in elderly patients is lacking, primarily due to the unique characteristics of this demographic. Our objective was to assess the risk factors contributing to aneurysm instability (growth or rupture) within the elderly population., Methods: In this study, we compiled data from follow-up patients with UIAs spanning from November 2016 to August 2021. We specifically focused on patients aged ≥ 60 years. Clinical histories were gathered, and morphological parameters of aneurysms were measured. The growth of aneurysms was determined using the computer-assisted semi-automated measurement (CASAM). Growth and rupture rates of UIAs were calculated, and both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted., Results: A total of 184 patients with 210 aneurysms were enrolled in the study. The follow-up period encompasses 506.6 aneurysm-years and 401.4 patient-years. Among all the aneurysms, 23 aneurysms exhibited growth, with an annual aneurysm growth rate of 11.0%, and 1 (4.5%) experienced rupture, resulting in an annual aneurysm rupture rate of 0.21%. Multivariate Cox analysis identified poorly controlled hypertension (P = 0.011) and high-risk aneurysms (including anterior cerebral artery (ACA), anterior communicating artery (AcoA), posterior communicating artery aneurysm (PcoA), posterior circulation (PC) > 4 mm or distal internal carotid artery (ICAd), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and PC > 7 mm) (P = 0.006) as independent risk factors for the development of unstable aneurysms., Conclusions: In the elderly, poorly controlled hypertension and high-risk aneurysms emerge as significant risk factors for aneurysm instability. This underscores the importance of rigorous surveillance or timely intervention in patients presenting with these risk factors., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim: To investigate the possible relationship between intracranial aneurysms and brain neoplasms., Material and Methods: A comprehensive literature review involving a search of the databases PubMed and Embase to identify relevant articles was conducted in March 2021. The initial search retrieved 451 articles. After deduplication and screening of abstracts, 56 articles were selected. After reading of the full texts, 19 articles were included in the review., Results: There insufficient evidence to support that people with brain neoplasms have a higher incidence rate of IAs. However, the prevalence of IAs appears to be higher in patients with pituitary tumors than in the general population. The key factors affecting prognosis were tumor type in patients with unruptured aneurysms and progression of subarachnoid hemorrhage in individuals with ruptured aneurysms. Treatment should be individualized according to patient age, tumor pathology, location, and aneurysm rupture risk., Conclusion: There is a lack of evidence to affirm that the existence of brain neoplasm plays a role in the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Additionally, there is insufficient evidence to confirm a greater prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in individuals with brain tumors. The association of these two disorders does not appear to worsen patient outcome. Prognosis depends on tumor pathology for malignant cases and on subarachnoid hemorrhage in patients with ruptured aneurysms.

Background and Objectives: The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device has been increasingly used to treat wide-neck aneurysms showing a safe and effective profile, but a relatively high number of thromboembolic events (TEEs) have been reported with such treatment. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and management of TEEs and possible predictive factors related to WEB embolization of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms., Methods: A single-center database with consecutive aneurysms treated with a WEB device between July 2012 and May 2022 was reviewed for intraoperative and delayed TEEs. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to determine factors associated with TEEs., Results: A total of 266 independent aneurysms were treated with WEB devices in 245 patients (mean age 55.78 ± 11.64 years, 169 (63.5%) females, 80 (30%) ruptured). The overall rate of TEEs is 13% (35/266), including 8.7% intraoperative. Symptomatic TEEs with clinical sequelae at a 3-month follow-up are reported to be 2.6% (7/266) with no TEE-related mortality. Both the replacement of a WEB device during the procedure (adjusted odds ratio = 2.61, 95% CI 1.24-5.49; P = .01) and ruptured aneurysms (adjusted odds ratio = 2.74, 95% CI 1.31-5.7; P = .007) were independent predictors of TEEs. A case-by-case management of intraprocedural TEE is also presented; tirofiban was successfully used in most cases of this cohort., Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that ruptured aneurysms and WEB device replacement during the procedure were independent predictive factors for TEEs. As a result, making the correct choice of WEB is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. Moreover, with proper medical management of TEEs, minimal morbidity and no mortality could be achieved, which reinforces the safety of the technique., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2023. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Temporary arterial occlusion (TAO) is a widespread practice in the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. This study aimed to investigate TAO's role during ruptured aneurysm clipping as an independent prognostic factor on short- and long-term outcomes., Methods: This prospective cohort included 180 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms and an indication of microsurgical treatment. Patients who died in the first 12 hours after admission were excluded., Results: TAO was associated with intraoperative rupture (IOR) (odds ratio - OR = 10.54; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 4.72-23.55; p < 0.001) and surgical complications (OR = 2.14; 95%CI 1.11-4.07; p = 0.01). The group with TAO and IOR had no significant difference in clinical (p = 0.06) and surgical (p = 0.94) complications compared to the group that had TAO, but no IOR. Among the 111 patients followed six months after treatment, IOR, number of occlusions, and total time of occlusion were not associated with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) in the follow-up (respectively, p = 0.18, p = 0.30, and p = 0.73). Among patients who underwent TAO, IOR was also not associated with GOS in the follow-up (p = 0.29)., Conclusions: TAO was associated with IOR and surgical complications, being the latter independent of IOR occurrence. In long-term analysis, neither TAO nor IOR were associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Background: Factors predicting the growth or rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) remain under debate. Increased availability of neuro-imaging has led to increasing incidental findings, therefore understanding the natural history is vital to make appropriate management and follow-up decisions. We analysed a large dataset of UIAs to better identify patients at increased risk, therefore requiring enhanced monitoring and/or prophylactic intervention., Methods: Electronic patient records were reviewed from consecutive patients regarding the following data: baseline demographics; past medical and smoking history; indication for imaging detecting the UIA(s); size, location and morphology of UIA(s), duration of imaging follow-up, detection of growth and rupture. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for UIA growth or rupture. Subgroup analysis was performed for 'small' aneurysms (<7mm)., Results: 445 UIAs in 274 patients were analysed. Total imaging follow-up was 2268 aneurysm-years (median 3.8 years/UIA). 27 UIAs grew (1.2% annually), and 15 ruptured (0.46%). 70.1% of UIAs were detected incidentally. Mean aneurysm diameter was 4.1mm.Logistic regression identified age < 50, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), hypertension and diameter > 7mm as significant risk factors for growth/rupture. Additionally, previous smoking compared to current smoking was a protective factor against growth or rupture, but no significant difference was seen when comparing current- with non-smokers. Small aneurysm subgroup analysis identified diameter > 5mm, age < 50, ADPKD, and ongoing smoking as risk factors. No significant difference was observed in risk between those with and without previous SAH., Conclusions: This study underlines the need for imaging surveillance of even small UIAs. Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for growth/rupture of pre-existing aneurysms, while ADPKD is a particularly strong risk factor.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, associated factors, clinical course, and management options of subdural hygroma in patients treated for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)., Methods: From January 2013 until June 2022, 336 consecutive patients with aSAH underwent treatment in our center. No one patient was excluded from the study cohort. Computed tomography (CT) examinations were performed at admission, immediately after surgery and on the first postoperative day, and subsequently in case of any neurologic deterioration or, at least, once per week until discharge from the hospital. Thereafter, CT examinations were at the discretion of specialists in the rehabilitation facility, referring physicians, or neurosurgeons at the outpatient clinic., Results: The length of radiologic follow-up starting from CT at admission ranged from 1 to 3286 days (mean, 673 ± 895 days; median, 150 days). Subdural hygromas developed in 84 patients (25%). An average interval until this imaging finding from the initial CT examination was 25 ± 55 days (median, 8 days; range, 0-362 days). Evaluation in the multivariate model showed that patient age ≥72 years (P < 0.0001), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting (P < 0.0001), and microsurgical clipping of ruptured intracranial aneurysm (RIA; P < 0.0001) are independently associated with the development of subdural hygroma. In 54 of 84 cases (64%), subdural hygromas required observation only. Increase of the lesion size with (5 cases) or without (10 cases) appearance of midline shift was associated with patient age <72 years (P = 0.0398), decompressive craniotomy (P = 0.0192), and CSF shunting (P = 0.0009), whereas evaluation of these factors in the multivariate model confirmed independent association of only CSF shunting (P = 0.0003). Active management of subdural hygromas included adjustment of the shunt programmable valve opening pressure, cranioplasty, external subdural drainage, or their combination. Overall, during follow-up (mean, 531 ± 824 days; median, 119 days; range, 2-3285 days) after the start of observation or applied treatment, subdural hygromas showed either decrease (50 cases) or stabilization (34 cases) of their sizes, and no one lesion showed progression again., Conclusions: The clinical course of subdural hygromas in patients treated for aSAH is generally favorable, but occasionally these lesions show progressive enlargement with or without the appearance of midline shift, which requires active management., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: Our study focused on the risk factors associated with anterior circulation intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture by examining the carotid artery (CA) tortuosity index (TI) and anterior circulation IA morphological parameters., Method: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data from 163 patients with anterior circulation IA diagnosed by head and neck computed tomography angiography (CTA). The patients were categorized into two groups: the ruptured group (57 cases) and the unruptured group (106 cases). CA was categorized based on its location into three segments: the extracranial segment of the internal carotid artery (EICA) TI, the angle of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the common carotid artery (CCA) TI. Measure the morphological parameters of all IA: IA length neck (L), IA height (H), aneurysm diameter width (D), the ratio of L to the mean diameter of the IA-bearing artery (SR), the ratio of H to D (AR), the angle of flow inflow (FA) and IA angle (AA). The study conducted five types of analysis to determine the risk factors for anterior circulation IA rupture. The first was an univariate analysis of the risk factors. The second was an analysis of the correlation between CA TI and IA morphological parameters. The third used multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis to analyse independent risk factors for IA rupture. The fourth was to plot ROC curves to build a predictive model for IA rupture and calculate diagnostic thresholds. Finally, a data set from another hospital (78 cases) was used as a validation set to validate the multivariate model., Result: Univariate analysis revealed that there were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in gender, EICA TI, location of IA and IA morphological parameters (FA, H, AR, L, SR), which acted as risk factors for anterior circulation IA rupture. The results of Spearman correlation analysis indicate that CCA TI is significantly correlated with SR, H and L (P < 0.05), while EICA TI is significantly correlated with FA and L (P < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic analysis showed that FA (OR = 1.072, 95%CI = 1.04-1.10, P < 0.001), SR (OR = 4.949, 95%CI = 1.96-12.53, P = 0.001), EICA TI (OR = 1.037, 95%CI = 1.01-1.07, P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for IA rupture. The ROC curve plotting results suggest that the area under the curve (AUC) of FA is 0.860 with a diagnostic threshold of 110.1°; the AUC of SR is 0.786 with a diagnostic threshold of 1.67; the AUC of EICA TI is 0.723 with a diagnostic threshold of 28.845; the AUC of the three combined is 0.903 with a threshold of 0.480. The combined factor diagnostic model is validated according to the validation set, and the results show that the AUC (0.866) of the validation set is not much different from the AUC (0.903) of the multivariate model, and the multivariate model has a better diagnostic effect., Conclusion: In clinical practice, it is important to consider the evaluation of aneurysm rupture in combination with imaging, as FA, SR and ECIA TI are independent risk factors for IA rupture in the anterior circulation. Unlike the IA morphological parameters, EICA TI is an often overlooked extracranial parameter, but is equally important in its power to predict IA rupture. When the EICA TI exceeds 28.845, the IA has the possibility of rupture. Finally, multivariate diagnostic model are of interest when considering rupture of the anterior circulation IA., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is estimated that significant (3.2%) of population carries intracranial aneurysm (IA). An increasing number of imaging studies have caused that the chance of finding an incidental aneurysm is becoming more common. Since IA rupture causes subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH) and have significant mortality and morbidity prophylactic treatment should be considered when IA is detected. The benefit and risk of treatment of IA is based on epidemiological estimate which takes account patient and aneurysm characteristics. However we know that aneurysm rupture is biological process where inflammation of aneurysm wall is actively leading to degeneration of aneurysm wall and finally weakens it until it bursts. Until now, there have not been imaging method to detect inflammatory process of aneurysm wall METHODS: We created targeting immunoliposome for use in the imaging of aneurysm. Immunoliposome comprises antibodies against at least one vascular inflammatory marker associated with aneurysm inflammation and a label and/or a contrast agent., Results: Histological analysis of IAs where immunoliposome comprises antibodies against vascular inflammation with a label shows promising results for selectively detecting aneurysms inflammation. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we were able to detect immunoliposomes carrying gadolinium., Conclusion: Our work opens a new avenue for using contrast labeled immunoliposomes for detecting rupture-prone aneurysms. Immunoliposomes can cary gadolinium and selectively bind to inflammatory section of aneurysm that can be detected with MRI. Further research is needed to develop immunoliposomes to be used with MRI in humans to target treatment to those patients who benefit from it the most., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted to explore the factors affecting short-term prognosis and long-term outcomes of intracranial aneurysms (IA) rupture. Further, the prognosis prediction model was constructed based on survival analysis, contributing to the development of prevention strategies for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage., Methods: Data of 1280 patients with IA rupture were gathered between 2014 and 2022 in Fujian, China. Logistic regression was implemented to study the short-term prognostic factors of IA rupture. Survival analysis of 911 patients among them was performed to explore the long-term outcome status by Cox risk assessment. Nomogram prognosis models were constructed using R software., Results: The findings displayed that blood type O (OR = 1.79; P = 0.019), high systolic pressure (OR = 1.01; P < 0.001), Glasgow Coma score (GCS) 9-12 (OR = 2.73; P = 0.022), GCS < 9 (OR = 3.222; P = 0.006), diabetes (OR = 2.044; P = 0.040), and high white blood cell count (OR = 1.059, P = 0.040) were core influencing factors for poor short-term prognosis. Survival analysis revealed that age > 60 years (HR = 2.87; P = 0.001), hypertension (HR = 1.95; P = 0.001), conservative (HR = 6.89; P < 0.001) and endovascular treatment (HR = 2.20; P = 0.001), multiple ruptured IAs (HR = 2.37; P = 0.01), Fisher 3 (HR = 1.68; P = 0.09), Fisher 4 (HR = 2.75; P = 0.001), and Hunt-Hess 3 (HR = 0.55; P = 0.05) were the major risk factors for terrible long-term outcomes., Conclusions: People over 60 years with characteristics of type O blood, high systolic pressure, diabetes, high white blood cell count, and onset GCS < 12 will have more complications and a worse short-term prognosis. Those aged > 60 years with hypertension, conservative and endovascular treatment, multiple ruptured IAs, Fisher ≥ 3 and Hunt-Hess 3 have a greater risk of poor long-term prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Data on de novo aneurysm formation after treatment for intracranial aneurysms remains scarce. We studied the incidence of de novo aneurysm formation in patients who had undergone aneurysm treatment more than 18 years prior to follow-up. As it is a disease affecting a younger patient population more specific guidelines are needed when planning a follow-up regime., Methods: The rate of de novo aneurysm formation was assessed with Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) follow-up >18 years after endovascular or microsurgical treatment for an intracranial aneurysm. Variables associated with de novo aneurysm formation were studied using logistic regression. Missing data were imputed using chained random forests. A data-driven model for the prediction of de novo aneurysm was created to calculate the relative variable importance of ten clinical features., Results: De novo aneurysms were identified in 11/81 (13.6 %) patients, of whom 1 was male, over a median follow-up of 20 years. Sex was the most important variable associated with de novo aneurysm formation. Regarding the development of de novo aneurysm, men displayed an odds ratio (OR) of 0.16 (0.01-0.97), compared with women. OR for mRS score 2 or more was 0.20 (95 % CI 0.01-1.34), and OR for smokers was 3.70 (0.54-31.18). Six out of 11 patients (54.5 %) needed treatment; 1 underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) and 5 underwent microsurgical treatment (MST). The overall annual de novo aneurysm formation rate was 0.92 %., Conclusions: This study highlights the need for a longer follow-up imaging monitoring of patients that have previously undergone treatment for an intracranial aneurysm. These data are useful to take into consideration when planning a follow-up strategy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aneurysms of the posterior communicating segment of carotid artery (PcomA) have a high risk of rupture; when these nonruptured aneurysms are associated with oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP), the risk of rupture increases compared with asymptomatic nonruptured PcomA., Objective: To retrospectively analyze the risk factors involved in ONP secondary to PcomA aneurysm and to study the factors involved in the recovery time of ONP once it is established., Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients from 10 neurosurgery centers from October 2008 to December 2020. We analyzed age at diagnosis, presence of compressive neuropathy of the oculomotor nerve, presence of aneurysm rupture, largest aneurysm diameter, aneurysm projection, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, time between diagnosis and surgical treatment, as well as the outcome., Results: Approximately 1 in 5 patients (119/511 23.3%) with a PcomA presented with ONP. We found that patients with aneurysms measuring greater than or equal to 7.5 mm were 1.6 times more likely to have ONP than those with aneurysms smaller than 7.5 mm. In our study, the prevalence of smoking in the PcomA + ONP group was 57.76%, and we also found that smokers were 2.51 times more likely to develop ONP. A total of 80.7% showed some degree of improvement, and 45.4% showed complete improvement with a median recovery time of 90 days., Conclusion: This study showed that 80.7% of patients with PcomA aneurysms undergoing surgical treatment with aneurysm clipping showed some degree of improvement of the ONP, with a median time to recovery between 90 and 120 days., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2023. All rights reserved.)

Objective and Design: The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) has increased globally. We performed bioinformatics analysis to identify key biomarkers associated with IA formation., Methods and Results: We conducted a comprehensive analysis combined with multi-omics data and methods to identify immune-related genes (IRGs) and immunocytes involved in IAs. Functional enrichment analyses showed enhanced immune responses and suppressed organizations of extracellular matrix (ECM) during aneurysm progression. xCell analyses showed that the abundance of B cells, macrophages, mast cells, and monocytes significantly increased from levels in control to unruptured aneurysms and to ruptured aneurysms. Of 21 IRGs identified by overlapping, a three-gene (CXCR4, S100B, and OSM) model was constructed through LASSO logistic regression. The diagnostic ability of the three biomarkers in discriminating aneurysms from the control samples demonstrated a favorable diagnostic value. Among the three genes, OSM and CXCR4 were up-regulated and hypomethylated in IAs, while S100B was down-regulated and hypermethylated. The expression of the three IRGs was further validated by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and mouse IA model using scRNA-seq analysis., Conclusion: The present study demonstrated heightened immune response and suppressed ECM organization in aneurysm formation and rupture. The three-gene immune-related signature (CCR4, S100B, and OSM) model may facilitate IA diagnosis and prevention., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Objective: The natural history of cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs) is not fully understood. For robust clinical decision-making, the behavior of CCAs needs to be fully understood. The objective of this paper was to calculate the mortality and morbidity rates of patients with diagnosed but untreated CCAs from a relatively large single-center cohort., Methods: The authors identified 250 patients with 276 CCAs from August 1946 to August 2017 from an aneurysm database including 12,000 intracranial aneurysm patients. Patient and aneurysm characteristics were extracted for further analysis., Results: The cumulative patient follow-up was 1560 years, with a mean of 6.3 years. For patients presenting with a cranial nerve deficit caused by a CCA, those with a ruptured CCA, and patients who received treatment for a CCA, the cumulative patient follow-up was 121 years, with a mean of 1.3 years. For patients with symptom-free or conservatively treated CCAs, the cumulative patient follow-up was 1093 years, with a mean of 7.2 years. Of the 276 aneurysms, 57 (21%) caused cranial nerve deficits and 18 (6.5%) other symptoms, while 201 (73%) remained symptom free. A total of 264 (96%) of the CCAs remained unruptured, and 2 were considered possibly ruptured. Ten (3.6%) ruptures of the CCAs were found. However, none of the ruptured aneurysms caused subarachnoid hemorrhage or death of the patient. Of the CCAs, 51 were multiple, and 131 patients had ≥ 1 intradural aneurysm. The CCAs were analyzed separately., Conclusions: The majority of the CCAs were asymptomatic during follow-up, and none caused the death of the patient. The incidence of symptoms increased with aneurysm size. Because CCAs have a benign natural course, treatment should be considered mainly if the CCA is symptomatic or grows during follow-up.

Introduction: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) are common in the adult population, but only a relatively small proportion will rupture. It is therefore essential to have accurate estimates of rupture risk to target treatment towards those who stand to benefit and avoid exposing patients to the risks of unnecessary treatment. The best available UIA natural history data are the PHASES study. However, this has never been validated and given the known heterogeneity in the populations, methods and biases of the constituent studies, there is a need to do so. There are also many potential predictors not considered in PHASES that require evaluation, and the estimated rupture risk is largely based on short-term follow-up (mostly 1 year). The aims of this study are to: (1) test the accuracy of PHASES in a UK population, (2) evaluate additional predictors of rupture and (3) assess long-term UIA rupture rates., Methods and Analysis: The Risk of Aneurysm Rupture study is a longitudinal multicentre study that will identify patients with known UIA seen in neurosurgery units. Patients will have baseline demographics and aneurysm characteristics collected by their neurosurgery unit and then a single aggregated national cohort will be linked to databases of hospital admissions and deaths to identify all patients who may have subsequently suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage. All matched admissions and deaths will be checked against medical records to confirm the diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. The target sample size is 20 000 patients. The primary outcome will be aneurysm rupture resulting in hospital admission or death. Cox regression models will be built to test each of the study's aims., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval has been given by South Central Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee (21SC0064) and Confidentiality Advisory Group support (21CAG0033) provided under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006. The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals., Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN17658526., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Peri-interventional vasospasm (PIVS) is associated with high risk of delayed cerebral vasospasm (DCVS), delayed cerebral ischemia, and poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, the incidence rate associated with treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) remains unclear., Objective: To define the incidence and clinical significance of PIVS in UIA repair based on intraoperative/peri-interventional digital subtraction angiography., Methods: A consecutive series of 205 patients who underwent UIA treatment by means of microsurgical clipping (n = 109) or endovascular coil embolization (n = 96) was assessed for the occurrence of PIVS. In all cases, PIVS was detected, measured, and classified using intraoperative/peri-interventional digital subtraction angiography. Severity of PIVS, association of PIVS with the development of DCVS, and neurological outcome were analyzed., Results: Intraoperative PIVS was present in n = 14/109 (13%) patients with microsurgical clipping. Of these, caliber irregularities were mild (n = 10), moderate (n = 3), and severe (n = 1). In endovascularly treated patients, 6/96 (6%) developed PIVS, which were either mild (n = 3) or moderate (n = 3). Management in all cases included immediate intensive blood pressure management and application of topical papaverine or intra-arterial nimodipine immediately on detection of PIVS. No patient developed DCVS or lasting neurological deficits attributable to PIVS., Conclusion: This series revealed a relatively high overall incidence of PIVS (10%). However, no association of PIVS with the development of DCVS or poor outcome was found. In contrast to ruptured intracranial aneurysms, PIVS in unruptured intracranial aneurysms-if immediately and adequately addressed-seems to be benign and without sequelae for patient's functional outcome., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2022. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) amounts to 3.2% among adults. The annual risk of aneurysm rupture is 2-10% and it results in subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study is to assess changes in the incidence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid haemorrhages in Poland between 2013 and 2021 and the cost associated with their in-hospital treatment in the acute phase. The analysis was based on the National Health Fund database. Patients diagnosed with UIA and SAH and hospitalised between 2013 and 2021 were chosen. The statistical analysis was performed with an assumed significance level of α = 0.05. The ratio between the prevalence of SAH and UIA diagnoses was 4:6. The proportion of women in relation to men was higher in both diagnoses. The highest proportions of patients with diagnoses SAH and UIA were found in highly urbanised provinces. The value of medical services in 2021 compared to 2013 increased by 81.8%. The highest values in this period were recorded in Mazowieckie province, and the lowest were recorded in Opolskie province. The overall number of patients hospitalised with diagnosis of UIA or SAH did not decrease, but the risk of aneurysm rupture probably decreased, which resulted in lower incidence of SAH in subsequent years of observation. The recorded changes in the dynamics of the value of medical services per patient or per hospitalisation largely coincided. However, it is difficult to speculate on expected value levels as not all provinces showed linear changes in the value of services provided.

Background and Purpose: According to the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms, small (<7 mm) unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) of the anterior circulation (aC) carry a neglectable 5-year rupture risk. In contrast, some studies report frequencies of >20% of all ruptured IAs being small IAs of the aC. This contradiction was addressed in this study by analyzing the rates and risk factors for rupture of small IAs within the aC., Methods: Of the institutional observational cohort, 1676 small IAs of the aC were included. Different demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiographic characteristics were collected. A rupture risk score was established using all independent prognostic factors. The score performance was checked using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis., Results: Of all registered small IAs of the aC, 20.1% were ruptured. The developed small IAs of the aC (SIAAC) score (range = -4 to +13 points) contained five major risk factors: IA location and size, arterial hypertension, alcohol abuse, and chronic renal failure. In addition, three putative protective factors were also included in the score: hypothyroidism, dyslipidemia, and peripheral arterial disease. Increasing rates of ruptured IA with increasing SIAAC scores were observed, from 0% (≤-1 points) through >50% (≥8 points) and up to 100% in patients scoring ≥12 points. The SIAAC score achieved excellent discrimination (area under the curve SIAAC  = 0.803) and performed better than the PHASES (Population,Hypertension, Age, Size of the aneurysm, Earlier SAH from another aneurysm, Site of aneurysm) score., Conclusions: Small IAs of the aC carry a considerable rupture risk. After external validation, the proposed rupture risk score might provide a basis for better decision-making regarding the treatment of small unruptured IAs of the aC., (© 2022 The Authors. European Journal of Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Neurology.)

Background: Small multiple intracranial aneurysms (SMIAs) are known to be more prone to rupture than are single aneurysms. However, specific recommendations for patients with small MIAs are not included in the guidelines of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of machine learning-based cluster analysis for discriminating the risk of rupture of SMIAs., Methods: This multi-institutional cross-sectional study included 1,427 SMIAs from 660 patients. Hierarchical cluster analysis guided patient classification based on patient-level characteristics. Based on the clusters and morphological features, machine learning models were constructed and compared to screen the optimal model for discriminating aneurysm rupture., Results: Three clusters with markedly different features were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 45) had the highest risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (75.6%) and was characterized by a higher prevalence of familiar IAs. Cluster 2 (n = 110) had a moderate risk of SAH (38.2%) and was characterized by the highest rate of SAH history and highest number of vascular risk factors. Cluster 3 (n = 505) had a relatively mild risk of SAH (17.6%) and was characterized by a lower prevalence of SAH history and lower number of vascular risk factors. Lasso regression analysis showed that compared with cluster 3, clusters 1 (odds ratio [OR], 7.391; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.074-13.150) and 2 (OR, 3.014; 95% CI, 1.827-4.970) were at a higher risk of aneurysm rupture. In terms of performance, the area under the curve of the model was 0.828 (95% CI, 0.770-0.833)., Conclusions: An unsupervised machine learning-based algorithm successfully identified three distinct clusters with different SAH risk in patients with SMIAs. Based on the morphological factors and identified clusters, our proposed model has good discrimination ability for SMIA ruptures., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are antihypertensive agents with potential vascular protection effects. This study investigated whether CCB usage was associated with a lower incidence of unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) instability (growth and rupture) in patients with hypertension., Methods: UIA patients were included in two prospective, multicenter cohort studies (IARP-CP and 100-Project cohorts). All patients received conservative treatment and were regularly followed up every 6 months by CT angiography for 2 years. Patients taking CCBs at least 5 days per week were considered CCB users; otherwise, they were considered non-CCB users. The primary endpoint was UIA instability (rupture, growth of > 20% and/or 1 mm in any dimension, or appearance of a new dome irregularity on imaging follow-up)., Results: A total of 392 UIA patients with hypertension (191 male, 201 female; median age 57 years) were included with a mean follow-up duration of 21.7 ± 5.2 months. The primary endpoint was met in 81 patients (20.7%) during follow-up, including 68 patients with aneurysms that grew and 13 with aneurysms that ruptured. CCB users had a lower UIA instability rate than non-CCB users (27/237 [11.4%] vs 54/155 [34.8%], p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox analysis demonstrated that CCB use was associated with a lower risk of UIA instability (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.22-0.61; p < 0.001). The protective effect of CCB use was consistent in patients taking a single antihypertensive agent (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.12-0.40; p < 0.001) and patients taking > 1 antihypertensive agent (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.20-0.87; p = 0.021). For patients with controlled hypertension, CCB use was still associated with a lower risk of UIA instability (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.09-0.52; p = 0.001)., Conclusions: In UIA patients with hypertension, CCB use was associated with a lower incidence of aneurysm instability.

The Miyako Islands (with a population of approximately 50,000) are located in southwestern Japan, with a subtropical oceanic climate. This isolated location permitted a retrospective population-based epidemiological study of subarachnoid hemorrhage. We retrospectively enrolled 110 consecutive patients from 2010 to 2019 using the subarachnoid hemorrhage database at Okinawa Miyako Hospital, which is the only local facility with neurosurgeons. We calculated the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage standardized to the entire Japanese population. The seasonal distribution of subarachnoid hemorrhage onset and patients' epidemiological characteristics were also investigated. The standardized annual incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage was 21.4 per 100,000 population, as reported previously in Japan. The patients' mean age was 62.1 ± 15.4 years, and women constituted 60.9%. Anterior communicating artery aneurysms were most common. The endovascular treatment for ruptured aneurysms was increasing as standard levels in Japan. The rates of symptomatic vasospasm and secondary hydrocephalus requiring additional neurosurgical treatment were 2.7% and 19.1%, respectively. The mortality rate was 23.6%. The percentage of patients with a modified Rankin scale score of 0-2 at discharge was 55.5%. There were no differences in the frequency of subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with seasonal distribution or climatic factors. The incidence, baseline characteristics, and clinical outcomes of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the Miyako Islands were similar to those in other regions of Japan. There are preferable epidemiological backgrounds for further practical clinical research.

Purpose: To explore the effects of combined fenestration of lamina terminalis and Liliequist membrane during surgical clipping on the occurrence of chronic hydrocephalus in patients with ruptured anterior circulation aneurysm., Methods: Clinical data of 78 patients with anterior circulation ruptured aneurysms who were treated between June 2018 and January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the surgical treatment, patients were divided into 3 groups: clipping group (26 cases); fenestration group (lamina terminalis fenestration combined with clipping, 28 cases); and combination group (lamina terminalis fenestration and Liliequist membrane opening combined with clipping, 24 cases). The incidence of postoperative chronic hydrocephalus, the postoperative hydrocephalus shunt rate, and the Glasgow prognostic score (GOS) were evaluated., Results: The incidence of postoperative chronic hydrocephalus in the combined group (16.6 %, 4/24) was significantly lower than that in the clipping group (46.1 %, 12/26) and the fenestration group (35.7 %, 10/28; P < 0.05). The shunt rate of chronic hydrocephalus in the combined group (4.1 %, 1/24) was significantly lower than that in the clipping group (30.7 %, 8/26) and the fenestration group (17.8 %, 5/28; P < 0.05). The rate of postoperative GOS score of 5 in the combined group (75.0 %, 18/24) was significantly higher than that in the clipping group (23.0 %, 6/26) and the fenestration group (57.1 %, 16/28; P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Aneurysm clipping combined with lamina terminalis fenestration and Liliequist membrane opening can reduce the occurrence of chronic hydrocephalus and the rate of chronic hydrocephalus shunt surgery, thereby improving the prognosis of patients., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This is an overview of the challenges associated with screening for asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms (ICA) in children with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ADPKD is the most common inherited kidney disease affecting 1 in 1,000 people. ICAs are an extra-kidney manifestation of ADPKD, and while the exact pathophysiology of how they develop is unknown, we know that they more commonly occur in the adult rather than paediatric population. ICAs can be found in up to 9-11.5% of adults with ADPKD, but ICA rupture remains a rare event in adults with an incidence of 0.04 per 100 patient years. ICA size is an important factor in determining the risk of aneurysm rupture and therefore affects the decision on intervention in asymptomatic adults. For some, unruptured aneurysms cause no clinical significance, but those that rupture can be associated with devastating morbidity and mortality. Therefore, if detected, the treatment for unruptured ICAs is usually endovascular coiling, alongside recognising the importance of preventative interventions such as hypertension management. There are, however, no current guidelines for either adult or paediatric patients with ADPKD supporting regular screening for asymptomatic ICAs, although there is a suggestion for individualised practice, for example, with those with a positive family history. The UK clinical guidelines for ADPKD in children make research recommendations due to a lack of published literature, which in itself indicates that ICA rupture is an extremely rare phenomenon in children., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Pediatric Nephrology Association.)

Although hypertension is a known risk factor for intracranial aneurysm rupture, the benefit of the management of blood pressure in reducing the rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms remains largely unknown, especially for regular blood pressure monitoring. We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of 3965 patients with saccular intracranial aneurysms from 20 medical centers in China. The patients were divided into the non-hypertensive group and hypertensive group. Propensity score matching was applied to identify a cohort of patients with similar baseline characteristics. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between intracranial aneurysm rupture and the management of blood pressure. After matching, hypertension was significantly associated with an increased rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms (OR = 2.559, 95%CI = 2.161-3.030, P = 0.000). For the management of blood pressure, controlled hypertension (OR = 1.803, 95%CI = 1.409-2.307, P = 0.000), uncontrolled hypertension (OR = 2.178, 95%CI = 1.756-2.700, P = 0.000), and hypertension without regular blood pressure monitoring (OR = 5.000, 95%CI = 3.823-6.540, P = 0.000) were all significantly associated with a higher rupture risk compared with the absence of hypertension. Moreover, hypertension without regular blood pressure monitoring was associated with a higher rupture risk compared with either controlled hypertension (OR = 3.807, 95%CI = 2.687-5.395, P = 0.000) or hypertension with regular blood pressure monitoring (including controlled and uncontrolled hypertension) (OR = 2.893, 95%CI = 2.319-3.609, P = 0.000). The absence of regular blood pressure monitoring was significantly associated with an increased risk of intracranial aneurysm rupture, emphasizing the importance of implementation of regular blood pressure monitoring in hypertensive patients with intracranial aneurysms., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Treatment of anterior choroidal artery (AchoA) aneurysms is challenging because of the risk of artery injury. The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of AchoA infarction in patients who underwent surgical or endovascular procedure., Methods: We included 123 patients with AchoA aneurysms treated by surgical clipping (n = 62; 50.4%) or endovascular coiling, including flow diverter placement (n = 61; 49.6%). The clinical and radiological data were retrospectively analyzed. AchoA infarction was defined as the presence of a hyperintense signal on diffusion-weighted imaging in the area of AchoA, including the posterior limb of the internal capsule., Results: AchoA infarction was detected in 8 cases (6.5%), with similar incidence in both groups (6.5% [4/62] vs. 6.6% [4/61]). It occurred in ruptured aneurysms more frequently than in unruptured aneurysms (14.3% [6/42] vs. 2.5% [2/81], P = 0.019). In the surgical group, all 4 affected patients had a non-proximal type AchoA, whereas in the non-infarction group, 9 patients (15.5%) had a non-proximal type AchoA (P = 0.001). In the endovascular group, the incidence was higher in patients with ruptured aneurysms (17.3% [4/23] vs. 0% [0/38], P = 0.017) and lower in patients with pre-admission antiplatelet therapy (0% [0/39] vs. 18.8% [4/22], P = 0.014)., Conclusions: Repair of an AchoA aneurysm is associated with the risk of incurring post-procedural AchoA infarction. Surgical clipping and endovascular coiling have similar complication rates, but risk factors specific to each intervention exist. Careful surgical planning to avoid these risk factors in each therapeutic modality may improve patient outcomes., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine, is currently regarded as the best biomarker of tobacco smoke exposure. We aim to assess whether cotinine levels are associated with (1) intracranial aneurysm and (2) intracranial aneurysm rupture., Methods: We performed a single-center case-control study. Cases were consecutive patients admitted with diagnosis of brain aneurysm (ruptured or unruptured). We randomly selected controls without intracranial aneurysm from the same source population that produced the cases. Smoking data were collected by questionnaire, and serum levels of cotinine were used as an objective measure of nicotine exposure. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between cotinine levels and aneurysm rupture., Results: We included 86 patients with intracranial aneurysm and 96 controls. Smoking status (p < .001), cotinine levels (p = .009), and female sex (p = .006) were associated with diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm. In the multivariate analysis, controlling for sex, smoker status and age, levels of cotinine were independently associated with aneurysm rupture (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.10-2.13, p = .012)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that high cotinine levels in smokers with brain aneurysm are significantly associated with high rupture risk, independently of smoker status, age, and sex., (© 2022 The Authors. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Bleb presence in intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is a known indication of instability and vulnerability., Objective: To develop and evaluate predictive models of bleb development in IAs based on hemodynamics, geometry, anatomical location, and patient population., Methods: Cross-sectional data (one time point) of 2395 IAs were used for training bleb formation models using machine learning (random forest, support vector machine, logistic regression, k-nearest neighbor, and bagging). Aneurysm hemodynamics and geometry were characterized using image-based computational fluid dynamics. A separate dataset with 266 aneurysms was used for model evaluation. Model performance was quantified by the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUC), true positive rate (TPR), false positive rate (FPR), precision, and balanced accuracy., Results: The final model retained 18 variables, including hemodynamic, geometrical, location, multiplicity, and morphology parameters, and patient population. Generally, strong and concentrated inflow jets, high speed, complex and unstable flow patterns, and concentrated, oscillatory, and heterogeneous wall shear stress patterns together with larger, more elongated, and more distorted shapes were associated with bleb formation. The best performance on the validation set was achieved by the random forest model (AUC=0.82, TPR=91%, FPR=36%, misclassification error=27%)., Conclusions: Based on the premise that aneurysm characteristics prior to bleb formation resemble those derived from vascular reconstructions with their blebs virtually removed, machine learning models can identify aneurysms prone to bleb development with good accuracy. Pending further validation with longitudinal data, these models may prove valuable for assessing the propensity of IAs to progress to vulnerable states and potentially rupturing., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Rupture of intracranial aneurysms (RIA) leads to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with severe consequences. Although risks for RIA are established, the results vary between ethnic groups and were never studied in Kazakhstan. This study aimed to establish the risk factors of RIA in the Kazakh population.  METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 762 patients with single IAs, who attended the neurosurgical center from 2008 until 2018, was conducted. Demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, smoking status, and hypertension were considered. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. A multivariable logistic regression model was built to identify factors correlated with RIA., Results: The mean age of participants was 48.49 ± 0.44 years old. The majority (68.37%) of IAs have ruptured. Of the ruptured aneurysms, 43.76% were < 6 mm, and 38.39% were located on the anterior cerebral and anterior communicating arteries (ACA). Logistic regression model indicates younger age group (16-40 years), smoking, having stage 3 hypertension, smaller IA size and its location on ACA increase the odds of rupture., Conclusions: This study has revealed that younger, smoking patients with stage 3 arterial hypertension are at higher risk for RIA. Small aneurysms (< 6 mm) and location on ACA had increased odds of rupture, while larger aneurysms on internal carotid arteries had lower odds., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Management of incidental unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) remains challenging and depends on their risk of rupture, estimated from the assumed prevalence of aneurysms and the incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Reported prevalence varies, and consistent criteria for definition of UIAs are lacking. We aimed to study the prevalence of UIAs in a general population according to different definitions of aneurysm., Methods: Cross-sectional population-based study using 3-dimensional time-of-flight 3 Tesla MR angiography to identify size, type and location of UIAs in 1862 adults aged 40-84 years. Size was measured as the maximal distance between any two points in the aneurysm sac. Prevalence was estimated for different diameter cutoffs (≥1, 2 and 3 mm) with and without inclusion of extradural aneurysms., Results: The overall prevalence of intradural saccular aneurysms ≥2 mm was 6.6% (95% CI 5.4% to 7.6%), 7.5% (95% CI 5.9% to 9.2%) in women and 5.5% (95% CI 4.1% to 7.2%) in men. Depending on the definition of an aneurysm, the overall prevalence ranged from 3.8% (95% CI 3.0% to 4.8%) for intradural aneurysms ≥3 mm to 8.3% (95% CI 7.1% to 9.7%) when both intradural and extradural aneurysms ≥1 mm were included., Conclusion: Prevalence in this study was higher than previously observed in other Western populations and was substantially influenced by definitions according to size and extradural or intradural location. The high prevalence of UIAs sized <5 mm may suggest lower rupture risk than previously estimated. Consensus on more robust and consistent radiological definitions of UIAs is warranted., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Lifestyle modifications and advances in surgical and endovascular techniques for treating unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) have vastly evolved over the last few decades and may have reduced the incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the actual impact of these changes on the rates and outcomes of aSAH remain unexplored. Thus, we studied national aSAH admissions and outcome trends and changes of major risk factors over time., Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample between 2006 and 2018 to identify adult patients admitted and treated for UIA or ruptured aneurysm with aSAH. The Cochran-Armitage test was conducted to assess the linear trend of proportion of prevalence, inpatient mortality, hypertension, and current smoking status among aSAH admissions. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the odds of presenting with aSAH versus UIA, in addition to the odds of inpatient mortality among patients with aSAH., Results: A total of 159,913 patients presented with UIA and 133,567 presented with aSAH. Admissions for aSAH decreased by 0.97% (p < 0.001) per year. Current smoking and hypertension were associated with higher odds of being admitted for aSAH compared with the treatment for UIA (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-1.48; OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.08-1.22, respectively). Compared with White patients, Black patients (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.21-1.43), Hispanic patients (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.25-1.52), and patients of other races and/or ethnicities (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.54-1.95) had a higher chance of presenting with aSAH. Rates of inpatient mortality among aSAH admissions showed no change over time (p = 0.21). Among patients admitted with aSAH, current smoking and hypertension showed an upward trend of 0.58% (p < 0.001) and 1.60% (p < 0.001) per year, respectively., Conclusions: Despite a downward trend in the annual frequency of hospitalizations for aSAH, inpatient mortality rates for patients undergoing treatment of the ruptured aneurysm have remained unchanged in the United States. Smoking and hypertension are increasingly prevalent among patients with aSAH. Thus, efforts to control these modifiable risk factors must be further strengthened., (© 2022. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and Neurocritical Care Society.)