Initial and follow-up screening for aneurysms in families with familial subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In families with two or more relatives with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), other first-degree relatives have an increased risk of SAH. We studied the presence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in 125 members of 23 families with familial SAH, defined as two or more affected first-degree relatives, in a cross-sectional design. METHODS: MR angiography was performed in 116 relatives; CT angiography was performed in the remaining 9 relatives because they had been treated for intracranial aneurysms in the past. RESULTS: Overall, we found 16 aneurysms in 10 of 125 relatives (8%; 95% CI, 4 to 14%). Of the nine patients with previous surgery for ruptured or unruptured intracranial aneurysms, three had new aneurysms. Two factors were associated with a significantly higher risk of intracranial aneurysms: 1) a history of treatment for ruptured or unruptured intracranial aneurysms (relative risk 5.5; 95% CI, 1.7 to 17.8) and 2) having three or more affected relatives (relative risk 3.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 10.6). Siblings tended to have a higher risk of intracranial aneurysms than did children of SAH patients, although the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Because the yield is high, screening is recommended in first-degree members of families with familial SAH. Repeated screening should be considered in relatives who have been treated for familial intracranial aneurysms.