COLORADO
SPRINGS, Colo., July 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- There is a potential connection
between a diagnosis of certain gastrointestinal (GI) syndromes and
the formation and rupture of intracranial (brain) aneurysms,
according to research presented today at the Society of
NeuroInterventional Surgery's (SNIS) 21st Annual
Meeting.
An intracranial aneurysm (IA) occurs when a blood vessel in the
brain bulges, putting pressure on the vessel wall. IAs that rupture
cause brain bleeding and lead to a hemorrhagic stroke, a
life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical attention
from a neurointerventionalist. Researchers have questioned whether
GI syndromes may be connected to the formation and rupture of IAs.
In their study, "The Gut-Brain Axis: A Nationwide Database Analysis
of Gastrointestinal Syndromes Preceding a Diagnosis of Intracranial
Aneurysms," researchers from the University of
Pennsylvania found that certain digestive symptoms and
diagnoses may precede the formation and rupture of IAs.
The team analyzed data from 72,545 individuals with ruptured
IAs, 46,748 individuals with unruptured IAs and matched controls
looking for patients who had been diagnosed with GI disorders like
gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and
diarrhea before their IA diagnosis. Then, they validated their
findings in a cohort study with a five-year timeframe. Researchers
found that GI syndromes and appendectomy were associated with both
ruptured and unruptured IA cases.
Specifically, patients with IA who had been previously diagnosed
with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), diarrhea and constipation
were more likely to experience both IA formation and rupture,
leading to hemorrhagic stroke. Separately, they found that patients
with IA who had been diagnosed with reflux disease, chronic stomach
pain and bloating (known as functional dyspepsia), and IBS without
diarrhea were more likely to only experience IA formation without
rupture.
"There is evidence from animal studies suggesting a relationship
between the gut microbiome and various inflammatory diseases,
including the development and rupture of IAs. Therefore, validating
this new potential connection in humans has been enlightening,"
said Georgios Sioutas, MD, the primary author of the study and a
postdoctoral research fellow in neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania.
"Now that we have found more evidence for a link between IAs and
GI disorders, we are eager to explore them further, hoping that
early detection of GI syndromes might help identify patients at
risk of IAs," said Jan-Karl
Burkhardt, MD, the lead author of the study, associate
professor of neurosurgery, and division head of cerebrovascular
surgery at the Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania.
Dr. Sioutas emphasized the need for further studies to elucidate
these associations and explore the intricate interplay among GI
syndromes, the gut microbiome and IA pathogenesis.
To receive a copy of this abstract or to speak with the study
authors, please contact Camille
Jewell at cjewell@vancomm.com or call 202-248-5460.
About the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
The
Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) is a scientific and
educational association dedicated to advancing the specialty of
neurointerventional surgery through research, standard-setting, and
education and advocacy to provide the highest quality of patient
care in diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain, spine, head,
and neck. Visit www.snisonline.org and follow us on X (@SNISinfo)
and Facebook (@SNISOnline).
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SOURCE Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery