CD68 Antigen and Cerebral Aneurysms: A Case-Control Study
Abdolkarim Rahmanian1, Ahmad Salehi1, Eskandar Kamali-Sarvestani2,3
1Neurosurgery Department, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Insights
CD68 antigen levels were higher in cerebral aneurysm patients compared to controls, suggesting a role in aneurysm development. However, CD68 did not significantly correlate with rupture status or aneurysm size.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Cerebral aneurysms (CAs) are often linked to inflammation.
- The CD68 antigen is expressed by macrophages and other inflammatory cells.
- Understanding inflammatory markers like CD68 is crucial for CA research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare CD68 antigen levels in patients with cerebral aneurysms versus a control group.
- To investigate the association between CD68 levels and CA rupture status.
- To explore correlations between CD68, age, and aneurysm diameter.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 88 participants (44 CA patients, 44 controls).
- CA patients were further divided into ruptured (28) and unruptured (16) subgroups.
- CD68 levels, clinical data, and radiographic information were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant difference in CD68 levels was observed between CA patients and controls.
- No significant difference in CD68 levels was found between ruptured and unruptured CA subgroups.
- CD68 levels showed a non-significant correlation with age and no correlation with aneurysm diameter or Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
Conclusions:
- CD68 may play a role in the development of cerebral aneurysms, but not necessarily in their rupture.
- Inflammation, indicated by CD68, appears to be positively associated with aging in this context.
- Further population-based cohort studies are recommended to validate these findings.
Background:
Intracranial aneurysms are more commonly associated with inflammation as a cause of their development, progression, and rupture. Macrophages and other cells can express the CD68 antigen. The aim of this study was to assess the CD68 antigen levels in cerebral aneurysm (CA) patients compared to a control group at a referral center in Iran.
Methods:
A case-control investigation was undertaken on 88 individuals (44 of whom were cases and 44 were controls). Individuals with CA as the case group consisted of 28 ruptured and 16 unruptured subgroups. Clinical, radiographic, and CD68 levels were evaluated and registered.
Results:
The average age of the participants was 49 years. Males comprised 43.2% of the patients, while 56.8% were females (p = 0.002). There was a statistically significant difference in the CD68 levels between the two groups. There was no significant difference (p = 0.42) between the ruptured and unruptured subgroups (23.66 and 20.47, respectively) in this comparison. No significant correlation was seen between the patients' CD68 and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) levels and their aneurysm diameter (p = 0.74 and 0.45, respectively). A link between CD68 levels and age was found, but it was not statistically significant (r = 0.44 and p = 0.002).
Conclusions:
A possible involvement of CD68 as an inflammatory agent in the development of CAs but not in aneurysm rupture has been suggested. Inflammation and CD68 were positively associated with age. The CD68 antigen should be studied further in population-based cohort studies.
