Artikel
Small unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms: risk factors for rupture
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Veröffentlicht: | 21. Mai 2013 |
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Objective: The natural history of small unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) of the anterior circulation in the European population is unclear. Therefore the management of UIAs smaller than 7 mm in the anterior circulation is controversial.
Method: Between 1999 and 2012, 384 UIAs of the anterior circulation smaller than 7 mm in diameter underwent conservative treatment and regular annual follow-up in our institution. Patient and aneurysm specific information as well as information on aneurysm enlargement and rupture were entered into a prospectively conducted database.
Results: The mean follow-up duration was 48.5 ± 37 months. Three aneurysms enlarged during the follow-up period and were treated by surgical clipping. Three aneurysms ruptured during the follow-up period. The overall annual incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was 0.0005% during the follow-up. Arterial hypertension (p<0.001, HR 2.6, 95% CI 2.1 – 3.3), and age <50 years (p=0.04, HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.7) were independent predictors of aneurysm rupture in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: The present data indicate that the annual incidence of SAH associated with small anterior circulation UIAs is low in this single-institution prospective cohort study. The natural course varies according to arterial hypertension and patient age.