title: The association between genetic risk factors and the size of intracranial aneurysms at time of rupture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic risk factors for intracranial aneurysms may influence the size of aneurysms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between genetic risk factors and the size of aneurysms at the time of rupture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genotypes of 7 independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the 6 genetic risk loci identified in genome-wide association studies of patients with intracranial aneurysms were obtained from 700 Dutch patients with an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (1997-2007) previously genotyped in the genome-wide association studies; 255 additional Dutch patients with an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (2007-2011) were genotyped for these SNPs. Aneurysms were measured on computerized tomography angiography or digital subtraction angiography. The mean aneurysm size (with standard error) was compared between patients with and without a genetic risk factor by the use of linear regression. The association between SNPs and size was assessed for single SNPs and for the combined effect of SNPs by using a weighted genetic risk score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single SNPs showed no association with aneurysm size, nor did the genetic risk score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 6 genetic risk loci have no major influence on the size of aneurysms at the time of rupture. Because these risk loci explain no more than 5% of the genetic risk, other genetic factors for intracranial aneurysms may influence aneurysm size and thereby proneness to rupture.
authors.affiliation: *Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; ‡Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleinloog
authors.forename: Femke N G
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: van 't Hof
authors.forename: Franciscus J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.forename: Ingeborg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rasing
authors.forename: Irene C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: van der Schaaf
authors.forename: Gabriel J E
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rinkel
authors.forename: Ynte M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ruigrok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult