CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS ASSOCIATED WITH RUPTURE OF ANTERIOR COMMUNICATING ARTERY ANEURYSMS

Acta Clin Croat. 2022 Aug;61(2):284-294. doi: 10.20471/acc.2022.61.02.15.

Abstract

We analyzed aneurysm morphology, demographic and clinical characteristics in patients with anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms to investigate the risk factors contributing to aneurysm rupture. A total of 219 patients with ACoA aneurysms were admitted to our hospital between January 2016 and December 2020, and morphological and clinical characteristics were analyzed retrospectively in 153 patients (112 ruptured and 41 unruptured). Medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic and clinical data on age, gender, presence of hemorrhage, history of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Morphological parameters examined on 3-dimensional digital subtraction angiography included aneurysm size, neck diameter, aspect ratio, size ratio, bottleneck ratio, height/width ratio, aneurysm angle, (in)flow angle, branching angle, number of aneurysms per patient, shape of the aneurysm, aneurysm wall morphology, variation of the A1 segment, and direction of the aneurysm. Male gender, aspect ratio, height/width ratio, non-spherical and irregular shape were associated with higher odds of rupture, whilst controlled hypertension was associated with lower odds of rupture, when tested using univariate logistic regression model. In multivariate model, controlled hypertension, presence of multiple aneurysms, and larger neck diameter reduced the odds of rupture, while irregular wall morphology increased the risk of rupture. Regulated hypertension represented a significant protective factor from ACoA aneurysm rupture. We found that ACoA aneurysms in male patients and those with greater aspect ratios and height/width ratios, larger aneurysm angles, presence of daughter sacs and irregular and non-spherical shapes were at a higher risk of rupture.

Keywords: Aneurysm morphology; Aneurysm rupture; Anterior communicating artery; Clinical risk factors; Intracranial aneurysm; Subarachnoid hemorrhage.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured* / etiology
  • Cerebral Angiography / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / complications
  • Intracranial Aneurysm* / complications
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors