Subsequent Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research Articles

RUPTURE OF A SPINAL ARTERY ANEURYSM ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXACERBATED SJöGREN SYNDROME

Presentation of a patient with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured spinal artery aneurysm attributable to exacerbated Sjögren syndrome. A 46-year-old woman with symptoms of exacerbated Sjögren syndrome experienced the acute onset of extreme headache accompanied by nuchal rigidity. A computed tomographic scan revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage. Angiography showed an isolated aneurysm of a branch of the right vertebral artery that was a feeding artery of the anterior spinal artery. Neither operative clipping nor endovascular coiling of the aneurysm was reasonable, owing to the high risk of occluding the anterior spinal artery during the intervention. Further diagnostic measures confirmed Sjögren syndrome and revealed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with acute renal failure, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and acute hydrocephalus. In the course of conservative treatment, the patient recovered completely from the subarachnoid hemorrhage. One year after treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents, both the aneurysm and the vasculitis could no longer be detected on conventional angiography. Generally, spinal artery aneurysms are exceptionally rare, and few cases of rupture with subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage have been published. We report on a ruptured spinal aneurysm attributable to Sjögren syndrome-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. Conservative treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents led to resolution of the vasculitic spinal aneurysm.

Stent Placement for the Treatment of Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysms

Intracranial vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysms are commonly treated with endovascular parent artery occlusion. However, this procedure cannot be applied to patients with aplastic/hypoplastic contralateral VA or with posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) involved in the dissecting segment. Recently, endovascular treatment using stents for VA dissecting aneurysms has been reported. In this study, we investigated the safety, efficacy, and optimal application of this treatment. Thirteen patients were treated using stents to preserve the patency of the VA, PICA, and anterior spinal artery (ASA). In 6 patients, PICA or ASA was involved in the dissecting segment. Seven patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 4 with ischemic symptoms, 1 with headache without SAH, and 1 with incidental discovery. Eleven patients were treated with stent-assisted coil embolization and 2 with stenting only. Stents were successfully deployed in all patients. Of the 11 patients treated with stent-assisted coiling, complete obliteration of the aneurysm was achieved in 5 patients and residual dome filling was present in 5. In the remaining patient, aneurysm rupture occurred during the insertion of the coils, and therefore parent artery occlusion was performed. In 2 patients treated with stenting only, complete obliteration was confirmed by follow-up angiography. Growth of the aneurysmal dilatation occurred in 1 patient, but subsequent SAH was not observed in any patient. Endovascular treatment using stents and coils appears safe and effective, and provides an effective alternative to treating patients with aplasia/hypoplasia of the contralateral VA and some patients with involvement of the origin of PICA or ASA in the dissecting segment.

Dissecting posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage right after anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy against ischemic event

Background Dissecting aneurysms with initial ischemic manifestations may present with subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and their treatment is controversial. This is a case report that illustrates the dilemma when dealing with an immediate post-SAH period dissecting posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm initially presenting with an ischemic event. Methods We present a 57-year-old man with a dissecting PICA aneurysm who had SAH right after anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy for cerebral infarction. The aneurysm was not detected by magnetic resonance angiography performed at the time of admission. Results On admission, he was treated with both anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy. After the SAH episode, he underwent emergent resection of the dissecting aneurysm and left OA-PICA anastomosis. Conclusion If hemorrhagic transformation occurs at the site of an ischemic dissecting aneurysm, surgical or endovascular intervention should be considered immediately. Although the optimal treatment of dissecting aneurysms with ischemic onset remains controversial, anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy should not be rejected out of hand.

Lethal vertebral artery dissection in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Subarachnoid hemorrhage represents a rare event in pregnancy with a high mortality rate. We present the case of a 39-year-old pregnant woman who developed right vertebral artery dissection with subsequent massive subarachnoid hemorrhage with fatal outcome. The macroscopic and microscopic autopsy findings are described. A review of the literature with a discussion of the varied predisposing factors for vertebral artery dissection and subarachnoid hemorrhage and the rarity of these events in pregnancy is provided.

Lethal Vertebral Artery Dissection in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Subarachnoid hemorrhage represents a rare event in pregnancy with a high mortality rate. We present the case of a 39-year-old pregnant woman who developed right vertebral artery dissection with subsequent massive subarachnoid hemorrhage with fatal outcome. The macroscopic and microscopic autopsy findings are described. A review of the literature with a discussion of the varied predisposing factors for vertebral artery dissection and subarachnoid hemorrhage and the rarity of these events in pregnancy is provided.

非出血性解離性脳動脈りゅうの治療方針 非出血性解離性椎骨動脈りゅうの治療指針

We retrospectively investigated the clinical and angiographic follow-up results of intracranial vertebral artery (VA) dissection initially presented without subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to clarify its management. Forty-one patients with VA dissection initially presenting without SAH were studied. Initial angiography revealed pearl and string sign in 18, double lumen sign in 4, aneurysmal dilatation with double lumen in 2, only aneurysmal dilatation in 6, occlusion in 7, and string-like stenosis in 4. Twenty patients, including 6 with subsequent SAH, underwent endovascular treatment (parent artery occlusion in 16 and stent-assisted coil embolization in 4). The other 21 patients were treated conservatively. The intervals between the onset and SAH were 1 day (2 patients), 3 days (2 patients), 14 days (1 patient) and 51 months (1 patient). One of the 16 patients treated by parent artery occlusion suffered from ischemic complications. Stent-assisted coil embolization was safely performed in all of the 4 patients. Follow-up angiography of the 37 patients showed deterioration in 14, complete resolution or improvement in 9, and no change in 14. Thirty-seven patients achieved good recovery, and 4 patients remained moderately disabled due to the initial ischemic attack. Although the natural history of unruptured VA dissection is still unknown, endovascular treatment should be considered for patients with a relatively large or growing aneurysmal dilatation because prognosis of the patients with subsequent SAH is poor.

舌筋の線維束性れん縮により椎骨動脈りゅうが発見された片側性舌下神経麻ひの１例

Hypoglossal nerve palsy (HNP) with fasciculation of the tongue is unusual, but occasionally occurs as the initial or solitary sign of an intracranial lesion. We report a case of HNP caused by a vertebral artery aneurysm which was found due to fasciculation of the tongue. A 40-year-old man was referred to Iizuka Hospital because of lingual deviation and slight dysarthria. Intraoral examination showed hemiatrophy in the right side of the tongue with fasciculation and deviation towards the right side on protrusion. There were no other clinically significant neurological findings. Magnetic resonance imaging and an angiographic examination revealed a vertebral artery aneurysm, which was treated by proximal arterial occlusion of the vertebral artery to prevent rupture and subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage. The postoperative course was favorable, without any serious sequelae. This case demonstrates the importance of investigating the possibility of intracranial lesions in patients who have HNP with fasciculation of the tongue.

Endovascular Treatment of Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysms Using Stents

We report on five patients who were treated by stent-assisted coil embolization to preserve the patency of the parent artery. Three patients presented with subarachnoid haemorrhage and two with ischemic symptoms. Four patients were treated with stenting and then followed by coil embolization of the aneurysmal dilatation, and the remaining patient with stenting alone because the aneurysmal dilatation was too small to insert coils. Complete obliteration of the aneurysm was achieved in three patients, but in one patient an aneurysmal rupture occurred during the insertion of the first coil and a parent artery occlusion was therefore performed. In the one patient treated with stenting alone, a small aneurysmal dilatation remained patent, but complete obliteration was confirmed by the follow-up angiography. Subsequent subarachnoid haemorrhage was not observed in any of the patients. Four of them achieved a good recovery, but one patient suffered severe disability due to the aneurysmal rupture during the procedure. Parent artery occlusion remains the treatment of choice. Stentassisted coil embolization has a higher risk of rupture than does the parent artery occlusion during the procedure. Furthermore, recanalization or subsequent subarachnoid haemorrhage is more likely to occur in a stent-assisted coil embolization after the procedure. However, this procedure, which can maintain the patency of the parent artery, will become an alternative for patients who are at a high risk of developing ischemic symptoms in parent artery occlusions.

Management of intracranial vertebral artery dissections initially presenting without subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The clinical and angiographic follow-up results for intracranial vertebral artery (VA) dissections that initially presented without subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were retrospectively investigated, to clarify their management. Twenty-one patients with VA dissections that initially presented without SAH were studied. Initial angiography revealed aneurysmal dilation in 11 cases (typical pearl-and-string sign in 8 cases, aneurysmal dilation only in 2, and aneurysmal dilation with double-lumen sign in 1), occlusion in 7, double-lumen sign in 2, and string-like stenosis in 1. Nine patients (six with pearl-and-string sign, one with occlusion with aneurysmal dilations, and two with double-lumen sign), including three patients who experienced subsequent SAH, underwent endovascular proximal parent artery occlusion. The other 12 patients were treated conservatively. All patients were monitored with magnetic resonance angiography or digital subtraction angiography. Three patients experienced subsequent SAH, 1 day (two patients) or 51 months after onset. Follow-up angiographic assessments of the 20 patients demonstrated complete resolution in five cases, reduction of aneurysmal dilation in one case, and partial recanalization in one case. However, enlargement or formation of an aneurysmal dilation was recognized in four cases and progression of dissection was observed in one case. Eighteen patients experienced good recoveries, and three patients demonstrated moderate disabilities as a result of the initial ischemic insult. The risk of bleeding from unruptured VA dissections is higher than previously considered. Therefore, endovascular treatment should be considered for patients with VA dissections with relatively large or growing aneurysmal dilations.

Case of unusual presentation of fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery

Objective: To describe a case of a fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery presented as a pontine infarct and 2 days later as a subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by the rupture of the same aneurysm. Design: Case report. Setting: Tertiary-care hospital. Background: Fusiform aneurysm of cerebral vessels is a rare pathology that presents with ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or mass effect. Ischemia and subarachnoid hemorrhage in the same patient 2 days apart, to our knowledge, was not reported before. Subject: A 55-year-old Hispanic man with history of untreated hypertension and alcohol abuse presented with acute onset of right hemiparesis and dysarthria. On day 2 of his hospital admission, he developed arrythmia and loss of consciousness. The patient expired from cardiac arrest on day 4 of his hospitalization. Initial head computed tomography scan showed dolichoectatic basilar artery and marked calcification of internal carotid arteries (ICA) and middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed left upper pons infarct 2 cm in diameter. Magnetic resonance angiography confirmed presence of a fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery. Head computed tomography scan at the time of clinical deterioration on day 2 of hospital admission showed subarachnoid bleeding and significant brain edema. Autopsy revealed a ruptured basilar artery aneurysm with thrombus in the lumen and left pontine infarct. Microscopic examination of fusiform aneurysm showed atherosclerosis of the aneurysmal wall and attenuation and inflammation at the rupture site. Conclusions: We hypothesize that in our case, pontine infarct had developed because of occlusion of pontine perforators by a thrombus within an aneurysm, and subarachnoid hemorrhage had developed secondary to a rupture of weakened by inflammatory changes aneurysmal wall. We also hypothesize that in our case, ischemic stroke and subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage may represent different stages of the same process of atherosclerosis and inflammation in an aneurysmal wall confirmed by autopsy. Origin as well as management of fusiform cerebral aneurysms are unclear. Antiplatelet agents and anticoagulation are recommended by some for stroke prophylaxis in patients with unruptured fusiform cerebral aneurysms. Our case shows that caution should be exercised in prescribing anticoagulants or even antiplatelet agents to a patient with fusiform aneurysm of cerebral arteries due to a possibility of rupture of an aneurysm. Randomized prospective study may be necessary to clarify this issue. Copyright © 2001 by National Stroke Association

Feedback: Computed tomography for subarachnoid hemorrhage

Feedback: Computed tomography for subarachnoid hemorrhage

Follow-up of idiopathic thunderclap headache in general practice.

Follow-up studies of idiopathic thunderclap headache (ITH) have found no subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or other serious neurological disease, but the effect on life-style has not been studied. To assess the long-term outcome of patients with ITH in general practice we prospectively followed 93 patients with an episode of ITH during 1988-1993, of whom 77 were referred to hospital. ITH was defined as a sudden, unusually severe headache that started within 1 min, lasted at least 1 h, and for which no underlying cause was found. These patients were treated in 252 general practices. Outcome measures were subsequent SAH, subsequent headaches, absence from work, and diminished daily functioning. Patients were followed up by their general practitioner for a median of 5 years (range 1-10). Three patients died, all from non-neurological diseases. No subsequent SAH was diagnosed in any of the 93 patients. Recurrent attacks of ITH occurred in 8 patients, and 13 developed new tension headache or migraine. Absence from work because of headache was recorded in 11 patients, and in the overall group 6 patients were dependent on welfare. In only one-half of patients (n=52) did the general practitioner judge the level of daily functioning to be similar to that before the index episode of ITH. Thus, although no episodes of SAH occurred after ITH during long-term follow-up, one-half of patients with ITH had a lower level of daily functioning, and one-eighth had reduced working capacity, specifically because of headache.

Surgical treatment of anterior circulation aneurysms.

The purpose of this paper is to present the results, assessed by an independent observer, of surgical treatment of 428 consecutive patients harbouring aneurysms of the anterior circulation, together with a review of relevant anatomy and operative strategy. At follow-up (mean 5.6 years) 89.3% lived at home and were independent, 5.1% lived at home but needed some kind of assistance, 2.0% lived in institution, whereas information was unavailable in 3.6% of living patients. Two hundred and fifty-three patients (64.5%) had unchanged employment status, 0.3% worked in sheltered environment, whereas 30.9% went out of work due to their subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Information about employment status was unavailable in 4.3%. For aneurysms of the internal carotid, anterior communicating and middle cerebral artery, respectively, mortality was 3.2, 3.9 and 5.6%, whereas 92.0, 88.1 and 89.0% of surviving patients lived at home and were independent and 67.0, 63.6 and 63.0% had unchanged employment status. Three-months mortality of all causes was 4.2%. In the postoperative period 53 (12.4%) patients developed clinical signs of vasospasms, 6 (1.4%) had cardiac infarction, 4 (0.9%) lung oedema, 4 (0.9%) deep vein thrombosis, and 7 patients (1.6%) infection. During the follow-up period shunt-dependent hydrocephalus developed in 4.2% and 0.2% had a subsequent SAH from the same aneurysm. Forty-three patients were on anticonvulsive therapy.

Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms with Electrolytically Detachable Platinum Coils

The incidence of intracranial aneurysms has been estimated to be one to eight per cent of the general population. The most common complication of intracranial aneurysms is rupture with subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The definitive treatment for SAH in the past has been neurosurgical clipping of the aneurysms to prevent rebleeding. With the development of endovascular techniques in the seventies came an alternative to surgery for patients whose aneurysms were not favorable for clipping and for patients not medically stable enough to tolerate surgery. Of the endovascular techniques, embolization through the use of electrolytically detachable platinum coils appears to be the most promising. This procedure utilizes the electrochemical principles of electrolysis and electrothrombosis to facilitate selec-tive occlusion of intracranial aneurysms while sparing circulation in the parent artery. Evidence of the efficacy of these coils in ruptured intracranial aneurysms has been established in a large multicentered trial. Further investigation, however, is needed to determine the role this endovascular technique will play in first and second line treatment for both ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Cerebral arterial aneurysm formation and rupture in 20,767 elderly patients: hypertension and other risk factors.

Cerebral arterial aneurysms are common in the general population and their rupture is a catastrophic event. Considerable uncertainty remains concerning the conditions that predispose individuals to aneurysm formation or rupture. The role of systemic hypertension in aneurysm formation and rupture has been especially controversial. Demographic variables have rarely been addressed because of the small sample sizes in previous studies. The authors describe the demographics and prevalence of hypertension in 20,767 Medicare patients with an unruptured aneurysm and compared these to a random sample of the hospitalized Medicare population. The prevalence of hypertension in patients with unruptured aneurysms was 43.2% compared with 34.4% in the random sample. Patients who survived their initial hospitalization were separated into two groups: those with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as the primary diagnosis and those with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as a secondary diagnosis. Follow-up data for 18,119 patients were examined to determine the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with age, gender, race, hypertension, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and surgical treatment. For patients with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as the primary diagnosis, hypertension was found to be a significant risk factor for future SAH (risk ratio: 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-2.11), whereas surgical treatment (risk ratio: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.97) had a significant protective effect. Advancing age had a small but significant protective effect in both groups. Elderly patients identified with unruptured aneurysms are more likely to have coexisting hypertension than the general hospitalized population. In elderly patients hospitalized with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as their primary diagnosis, hypertension is a risk factor for subsequent SAH, whereas surgical treatment is a protective factor against SAH.

Prospective study of sentinel headache in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage

Retrospective surveys of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage suggest that minor episodes with sudden headache (warning leaks) may precede rupture of an aneurysm, and that early recognition and surgery might lead to improved outcome. We studied 148 patients with sudden and severe headache (possible sentinel headache) seen by 252 general practitioners in a 5-year period in the Netherlands. Subarachnoid haemorrhage was the cause in 37 patients (25%) (proven aneurysm in 21, negative angiogram in 6, no angiogram done in 6, sudden headache followed by death in 4). 103 patients had headache as the only symptom, 12 of whom proved to have subarachnoid haemorrhage (6 with a ruptured aneurysm). Previous bouts of sudden headache had occurred in only 2. Other serious neurological conditions were diagnosed in 18. In the remaining 93, no underlying cause of headache was found; follow-up over 1 year showed no subsequent subarachnoid haemorrhage or sudden death. In this cohort, acute, severe headache in general practice indicated a serious neurological disorder in 37% (95% Cl 29-45%), and subarachnoid haemorrhage in 25% (18-32%). 12% (5-18%) of those with headache as the only symptom. The notion of warning leaks as a less serious variant of subarachnoid haemorrhage is not supported by this study. Early recognition of subarachnoid haemorrhage is important but will probably have only limited impact on the outcome in the general population.

Epidural Abscess Associated With Intravenous Drug Abuse in a Pregnant Patient

The association between intravenous drug abuse and epidural abscess is well known; however, this association has not previously been reported in a pregnant patient. The classic manifestation of epidural abscess is a febrile patient with back pain that progresses rapidly to radicular pain, spinal cord dysfunction, weakness, and then complete paralysis. Although this condition is rare during pregnancy, these serious complications necessitate prompt diagnosis and intervention. If spinal infection is suspected, magnetic resonance imaging should be performed immediately. After epidural abscess is diagnosed, emergent decompressive laminectomy and appropriate antibiotic coverage are necessary. Herein we describe a 27-year-old pregnant patient with epidural abscess probably related to use of contaminated needles for intravenous administration of drugs and subsequent hematologic spread of staphylococci to the epidural space. The differential diagnosis of epidural abscess can be difficult, and management options must consider the well-being of both the mother and the fetus.