Intracranial aneurysms in patients with coarctation of the aorta: a prospective magnetic resonance angiographic study of 100 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) detected in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) with use of magnetic resonance angiography.


METHODS
From January 1, 1980, to September 30, 2002, 277 adult patients with CoA were seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, and were invited to participate in a study to detect IAs. Of these 277 patients (mean +/- SD age, 41.6 +/- 16.5; 70 men), 100 underwent cranial magnetic resonance angiography.


RESULTS
Ten patients had an IA (95% confidence interval, 5%-18%), with a mean diameter of 3.5 mm (range, 2.0-8.0 mm). The frequency of IA was significantly higher than that predicted in the general population (10% vs 2%; P < .001). One patient had surgical intervention. No clinical or geographical differences were found between patients with CoA and IA and patients with CoA and no IA.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of IA among patients with CoA is approximately 5-fold that of the general population. Although no risk factors were identified in this cohort, additional prospective evaluation is warranted. These data suggest that noninvasive cerebral imaging to screen for IA should be considered in patients with CoA.
Connolly
Heidi M
HM
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA. connolly.heidi@mayo.edu
Huston
John
J
Brown
Robert D
RD
Warnes
Carole A
CA
Ammash
Naser M
NM
Tajik
A Jamil
AJ
D000328:Adult; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies