The effect of aspirin on inflammatory response in intracranial aneurysm: a systematic review

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are prevalent vascular disorders characterised by abnormal vessel enlargements within the skull. Several trial reports and animal studies have demonstrated the important significance of various inflammatory variables in the development and advancement of IA. This study aims to investigate the impact of aspirin on the inflammatory response associated with IAs.

A systematic review was conducted using the Medical Subject Headings terms "aspirin," "inflammatory," "aneurysms," and "intracranial aneurysms" in Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus from inception until 15 July 2025.

The search strategy was implemented, excluding non-relevant or duplicate articles, resulting in the identification of 8 original articles, including 3 case-control and 5 cohort studies. Research results indicate that aspirin may be effective in the prevention of inflammatory responses associated with IAs by decreasing pathways such as COX-2/mPGE and macrophage activity.

The systematic review suggests that aspirin, regardless of its frequency, dose, or duration, may have anti-inflammatory effects in IAs. Thus, understanding this mechanism could enhance the therapeutic use of aspirin in managing IAs.