Brain and Abdominal Aneurysm Study

Overview

About this study

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is the most deadly kind of stroke. Each year, 40,000 Americans have SAH. Case-fatality approaches 60% and more than half of those who die do so before reaching the hospital. Most commonly, SAH results from rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. Screening high-risk individuals could identify those at greatest risk and decrease the devastating effect of SAH. Aortic Aneurysm also constitutes a major public health problem with high lethality. Current estimates are that ruptured aortic aneurysm kills 13,000 Americans each year. Screening efforts have effectively lowered mortality from aortic aneurysm rupture but a high proportion of those who die did not have a diagnosis of aortic aneurysm prior to rupture.

The relationship between intracranial and aortic aneurysm has long been recognized, but poorly quantified. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide a molecular biological evidence for a shared pathophysiology. The chromosome 9p21 locus confers increased risk for both intracranial aneurysms and aortic aneurysms. These GWAS data, along with linkage data for other susceptibility loci, indicate that individuals and families harboring one type of aneurysm may be at especially increased risk of the other.

The rationale for this project is that opportunistic screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) may be warranted in patients who present with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. This study is meant to see if the yield of screening in this population is too low to justify its routine use. The investigators plan to systematically screen for AAA in all cases of aSAH presenting to MCH for treatment. If no individual out of 81 consecutively screened cases of aSAH has evidence of AAA, then the investigators can have strong confidence that there is a less than 5% chance of finding an AAA in the patient population.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men and women age ≥ 18 years.
  • Diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm secured by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomographic angiography (CTA), or catheter-based cerebral angiography.
  • Diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosed by head CT, brain MRI or lumbar puncture.
  • Provides written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals < 18 years of age.
  • No known diagnosis of aortic aneurysm.
  • No history of prior screening for aortic aneurysm.
  • No condition like recent abdominal surgical scar that would preclude abdominal ultrasonography.
  • No therapy like abdominal hypothermia pads that would preclude abdominal ultrasonography.

 

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

Mayo Clinic Location Status Contact

Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Giuseppe Lanzino, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

RST Neurologic Surgery Research Team

(507) 293-1963

Jacksonville, Fla.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

James Meschia, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

Meredith McDonald

(904) 953-2903

Mcdonald.Meredith@mayo.edu

More information

Publications

Publications are currently not available