Prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms among first-degree relatives of Thai patients who had aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of familial unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) in Thai population was unknown.

METHODS

Our study population comprised first-degree relatives of patients who were diagnosed with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in two cerebrovascular neurosurgical centers from January 2018 to December 2018. The volunteers underwent three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography for screening intracranial aneurysms (IA). Those who were reported positive or suspected of IA then underwent computed tomography angiography for confirmation.

RESULTS

We identified 12 patients who had 12 unruptured IAs (UIAs) from among 93 first-degree relatives. The prevalence of UIA among our study population was 12.9%. An estimated prevalence of UIA among Thai population was 9.05% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.32-10.78). Of the 93 relatives, 84 had only one first-degree relative who suffered aSAH. Siblings posed a higher risk for UIA than offspring (16% vs. 9.5%), but the difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio 1.810, 95% CI 0.50-6.50, P = 0.274). The most common aneurysm location was the anterior cerebral artery territory (50%).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of familial UIA in a Thai population was relatively high. There was no significant between-group difference in the occurrence of UIA between the siblings and offspring of the aSAH patients.