Prevalence of intracranial aneurysms among acute ischemic stroke patients

The prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms varies with age, sex, and genetic diseases, including atherosclerotic diseases. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms among acute ischemic stroke patients and the clinical outcomes of the patients.

The authors included patients with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of onset. Demographic data, stroke subtypes, risk factors, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at 6 months after stroke were collected. Magnetic resonance angiography was performed to diagnose intracranial aneurysms. The occurrence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) was recorded during the follow-up at 6 months.

Thirteen (7%) of the 186 patients were found to have incidental intracranial aneurysms. Age and sex were not different between the patients with and without aneurysms (P > 0.999, P > 0.999). Ten patients (76.9%) had a saccular aneurysm. The most common site of the aneurysm was the cavernous part of the internal carotid artery (n = 6). Nine patients (69.2%) had very small (<4 mm) aneurysms. No aSAH was detected until 6 months after stroke. Favorable outcomes (mRS 0-2) at 6 months were not different between the patients with and without aneurysms (69.2% vs. 75.1%, P = 0.665).

A higher prevalence of intracranial aneurysms was observed among acute ischemic stroke patients than among the general population. However, the variability of the general population should be considered. The functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke patients are not affected by the presence of an intracranial aneurysm.