Introduction: Aortic root dimension (ARD), an echocardiographic marker of aortopathy, has recently been associated with intracranial aneurysm (IA) eccentricity, suggesting a common underlying pathophysiology between IA and aortopathy. Our goal is to identify specific intracranial aneurysm related parameters that independently correlate with ARD in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Methods: Clinical and aneurysm-related parameters obtained from 151 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms, and who also underwent echocardiography, were examined. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine correlation of these parameters with ARD.
Results: 151 patients who were evaluated from 2008 to 2013 were analyzed. Multivariate linear regression revealed that male gender and fusiform aneurysms were correlated with higher ARD (p<0.001 and p= 0.041, respectively) after adjustment for other morphological and clinical variables.
Conclusions: Fusiform aneurysms are correlated with larger ARD than saccular aneurysms, indicating a shared pathophysiological mechanism with aortopathy.
Patient Care: Aortic root diameter, an novel echocardiographic marker for shared pathophysiology of aortopathy and intracranial aneurysms, leads to new insights into the pathophysiology of intracranial aneurysms.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to understand that the common embryological origin between intracranial arteries and the aorta could explain the association of intracranial aneurysms and aorta-related diseases.