Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
03:47
A Murine Model of Carotid Aneurysm Formation
Published on: September 9, 2025
Familial intracranial aneurysms: is anatomic vulnerability heritable?
Jason Mackey1, Robert D Brown, Charles J Moomaw
1IU Health Neuroscience Center, 355 W 16th St, Suite 3200, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. jsmackey@iupui.edu
Stroke
|December 4, 2012
Summary
Family members with intracranial aneurysms (IAs) show a higher tendency for aneurysms in similar locations. This suggests a genetic predisposition to specific anatomical vulnerabilities, influencing IA formation and location.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are a significant cause of cerebrovascular disease.
- Previous research suggests familial clustering of IAs in similar anatomical locations.
- IA location is a critical factor associated with the risk of rupture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that anatomical susceptibility to specific intracranial aneurysm locations exists within families.
- To investigate the familial aggregation of IA locations.
Main Methods:
- Identified affected individuals and their first-degree relatives (FDRs) within families.
- Stratified intracranial aneurysms by major arterial territory.
- Calculated proband-FDR territory concordance and compared it to simulated control families using logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Intracranial aneurysm territorial concordance was significantly higher in true families compared to control families for internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and vertebrobasilar system.
- Overall concordance for any IA location was also significantly higher in families.
- Analysis included 323 families, 448 FDRs, and 1176 IAs.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a familial predisposition to specific anatomical locations for intracranial aneurysm formation.
- Anatomical vulnerability to IA development appears to exist within families.
- Future genetic studies of intracranial aneurysms should consider stratifying cases by IA location.
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