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Published on: August 11, 2015
Endocarditis-related cerebral aneurysms: radiologic changes with treatment
P Corr1, M Wright, L C Handler
1Department of Neuroradiology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Purpose:
To document the response of mycotic aneurysms to antibiotic therapy and correlate these findings with patient outcome.
Methods:
Clinical findings, CT studies, and serial cerebral angiograms of patients with endocarditis related aneurysms seen over 10 years were retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
In 14 patients infective endocarditis was diagnosed. The patients presented with subarachnoid haemorrhage (4 patients), stroke (9 patients), and seizure (1 patient). CT findings were intracerebral hematoma (5 patients), infarcts (4 patients), subarachnoid hemorrhage (4 patients), and aneurysms (2 patients). On angiography, 10 (71%) patients had single aneurysms, and 4 (29%) patients had multiple aneurysms. Eighteen aneurysms were detected, of which 6 (33%) were centrally located, and 12 (66%) were located peripherally. The most common site was the peripheral middle cerebral artery (56%). Serial angiography during antibiotic treatment demonstrated complete resolution of 6 aneurysms (33%), with 12 aneurysms remaining after 6 weeks of treatment. Of the latter, there was no change in size in 6 aneurysms (33%), a decrease in size in 3 aneurysms (17%) and an increase in size in 3 aneurysms (17%). No new aneurysms appeared. Surgery was performed on 10 patients with residual aneurysms, 11 aneurysms being excised or clipped. After 6 weeks' treatment, there was complete recovery in 7 (50%) patients, permanent neurologic deficits in 6 patients, and death from aneurysm rebleed in 1 patient.
Conclusion:
Follow-up angiography is recommended in all patients with mycotic aneurysms to assess response to antibiotic therapy, to detect new aneurysms, and to identify those aneurysms with no response or with enlargement.
Insights
Antibiotic therapy can resolve mycotic aneurysms, but follow-up angiography is crucial for monitoring treatment response and detecting changes in aneurysm size or new formations.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Mycotic aneurysms, often linked to infective endocarditis, pose significant risks including hemorrhage and stroke.
- Early diagnosis and effective treatment are vital for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in treating mycotic aneurysms.
- To correlate treatment response with patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of clinical data, CT scans, and serial cerebral angiograms.
- Analysis of 14 patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis and related aneurysms over a 10-year period.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic treatment led to complete resolution of 33% of mycotic aneurysms.
- 33% of aneurysms showed no change in size, 17% decreased, and 17% increased.
- 50% of patients achieved complete recovery, while others experienced deficits or death from rebleeding.
Conclusions:
- Follow-up angiography is essential for assessing antibiotic therapy response in mycotic aneurysms.
- Angiography helps identify aneurysms requiring further intervention due to lack of response or enlargement.
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