[Vascular pathology in first-degree relatives of patients with intracranial aneurysms]

An aim of the study was to compare by the analysis of pedigrees the frequency of vascular pathology in first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with intracranial aneurysms (IA) and controls. Pedigrees were selected by interviewing 194 patients with IA (94 men and 100 women) and 193 age- and sex-matched control patients. Only FDR with complete information about their health status were included: 1011 FDR of patients with IA and 812 FDR of controls. The results of the study revealed that the frequency of strokes was 2.5 times higher in FDR of patients with IA than in those of controls: 6.5% and 2.6%, respectively (RR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.56-4.09). Hemorrhages occurred 3.7 times more often in FDR of patients with IA than in FDR of controls: 3.4% versus 0.9% (RR = 3.90, 95% CI = 1.74-8.75). Only 0.9% of FDR of patients with IA had the rupture of intracranial aneurysm compared with nobody in FDR of controls. The frequency of headaches was 2.8 times greater in FDR of patients with IA than in those of controls: 19.6% versus 7.1% (RR = 2.74, 95% CI = 2.08-3.62). FDR of patients with IA suffered from arterial hypertension 2 times more often than FDR of controls: 24.9% and 11.6%, respectively (RR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.73-2.68). Coronary heart disease was 2.7 times more frequent in FDR of patients with IA than in controls: 8.9% and 3.3%, respectively (RR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.76-4.07). Sudden death occurred in FDR of patients with IA 5.8 times more often than FDR of controls: 11.1% and 1.9%, respectively (RR = 5.68, 95% CI = 1.37-23.39). Thus, vascular pathology occurs relatively often in FDR of patients with IA implying that vascular defects which cause the development of IA may be, at least in part, genetically determined. Prevention of stroke and cardiovascular disease is necessary for FDR of patients with IA.