Is bigger risk of brain aneurysms seen in people with aortic aneurysms?

The portion of the aorta that passes through the chest is known as the thoracic aorta. When a frail region of the thoracic aorta enlarges or swells it is known as the thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA).

A study from Yale School of Medicine claims that individuals with TAA could be at a considerably bigger danger of having an intracranial aneurysm (ICA) simultaneously. The study was headed by John Elaterids, M.D., chief of cardiac surgery.

He and his colleagues examined around 212 patients who had experienced TAA repair in the duration from 1997 to 2009. The scientists discovered that the odds of those suffering from TAA were nine times more as compared to the general population having intracranial aneurysms concurrently. Site also seems to have played a function in the augmented risk. If the aneurysm was in the downward aorta, the danger of having a simultaneous ICA was almost five times more as against patients suffering from TAA in the ascending aorta.

Elefteriades commented, “Descending aneurysms are arteriosclerotic, like aneurysms elsewhere in the body, including those in the abdomen, so it make sense that both atherosclerosis and aneurysms would be seen in another organ as well. Aneurysms in the ascending aorta do not result from the fatty buildup of atherosclerosis, but rather result from genetically weak aortic tissue.”

Hypertension also appeared to boost the occurrence of both types of aneurysms i.e. thoracic and brain, concurrently. Almost 12% of patients with hypertension apparently suffered from both TAA and ICA, as compared to less than 2% of those with standard blood pressure. It was noted that the risk also augments owing to smoking.

Elefteriades remarked, “Our study showed that people with TAA should be screened for possible brain aneurysm. We know they are at substantially greater risk, and if we catch the brain aneurysm before it ruptures, we can save lives and prevent devastating loss of brain function.”

Brain hemorrhage following an ICA rupture could be linked to elevated death rates. Approximately forty percent of patients expire in one month, and around thirty percent of the survivors seemed to have constant neurologic issues. In contrast, the extent of unfavorable results post treatment of unruptured ICAs appeared to be as low as one percent.

The study appears in the online edition of the American Journal of Cardiology.