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Molecular Pathogenesis of Cerebral Aneurysms: Current Concepts and Future Directions

  • Chapter
Cerebral Blood Flow

Part of the book series: Update in Intensive Care Medicine ((UICMSOFT,volume 37))

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Abstract

Cerebral aneurysms (CAs) are pathological dilations of cerebral arteries, most commonly seen at points of bifurcation in the major arteries forming the circle of Willis at the base of the brain. CAs are relatively common with a prevalence estimated to be as high as 6% in autopsy specimens [1,2]. Each year in the U.S., more than 30,000 people experience a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from the rupture of such an aneurysm. Unfortunately, 50% of these patients will die either at the moment of rupture or shortly thereafter. Another 25% will suffer devastating neurological complications resulting in loss of motor or cognitive function with consequent institutionalization and with enormous costs to the individual as well as to the system that has to care for a chronic patient. Finally, even the remaining 25% will experience protracted hospitalization and some degree of cognitive or neurological impairment. In contrast, operative repair of an unruptured CA has a mortality of less than 2.5% and morbidity of less then 6% [3].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurological Surgery and Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Amin B. Kassam MD, FRCS (Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Director, Center for Cranial Nerve Disorders Co-Director, Center for Cranial Base Surgery)

  2. Department of Human Genetics Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    David G. Peters PhD (Assistant Professor)

  3. Center for Endovascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Michael B. Horowitz MD (Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology Associate Director for Cranial Nerve Disorders)

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  1. Amin B. Kassam MD, FRCS
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  2. David G. Peters PhD
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  3. Michael B. Horowitz MD
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© 2003 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York

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Kassam, A.B., Peters, D.G., Horowitz, M.B. (2003). Molecular Pathogenesis of Cerebral Aneurysms: Current Concepts and Future Directions. In: Cerebral Blood Flow. Update in Intensive Care Medicine, vol 37. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56036-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56036-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42684-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-56036-1

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