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Background and Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the value of serum iron and hemoglobin levels for predicting acute seizures following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).Methods: Clinical and laboratorial data from patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms were collected in the retrospective study. Age, sex, symptom onset, history of diabetes and hypertension, history of coronary artery disease, temperature, Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher grade, aneurysm location, hemoglobin, serum potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron were collected. Acute seizures were determined as seizures within 1 week following aSAH. Propensity score matching (PSM) analyses were performed to correct imbalances in patient characteristics between seizure and non-seizure groups.Results: A total of 760 patients were included. Incidence of acute seizures following aSAH was 6.4%. In the univariate analysis, significant differences were detected in age, admission Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher grade, hemoglobin, serum sodium, and serum iron between seizure and non-seizure groups. In multivariate logistic regression model, lower serum iron was considered as a risk factor for acute seizures (OR 0.182, 95% CI 0.084-0.393, p = 0.000), as well as lower hemoglobin (OR 0.977, 95% CI 0.962-0.993, p = 0.004) and higher serum sodium (OR 1.072, 95% CI 1.003-1.145, p = 0.039). After PSM, there were no significant differences in age, admission Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher grade, and serum sodium between seizure and non-seizure groups. The matched seizure group had lower serum iron and hemoglobin levels compared with the matched non-seizure group (p < 0.05). The optimal cutoff value for serum iron and hemoglobin levels as a predictor of acute seizure after aSAH was determined as 9.9 mmol/L (sensitivity was 81.63% and the specificity was 65.40%) and 119 g/L (sensitivity was 63.27% and the specificity was 70.18%), respectively.Conclusions: Serum iron and hemoglobin levels were inversely associated with a high risk of acute seizures following aSAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the hypothesis that low hemoglobin levels are associated with acute seizures after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms were enrolled in the observational cohort study that prospectively collected age, sex, symptom onset, history of diabetes and hypertension, history of coronary artery disease, temperature, Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher grade, aneurysm location, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and modified Rankin Scale. Acute seizures were determined as seizures within 1 week after aSAH. We included 554 patients with requisite data for analysis in the prospective study. Incidence of acute seizures following aSAH was 3.61%. In the univariate analysis, significant differences were detected in admission Hunt-Hess grade, Fisher grade, hemoglobin, and serum iron between epilepsy and nonepilepsy groups. Furthermore, acute seizures were associated with higher modified Rankin Scale score and poor outcome (P = 0.004). Serum hemoglobin levels were 114.30 ± 20.08 g/L in the epilepsy group, which were lower than those in the nonepilepsy group (128.64 ± 17.94 mmol/L, P = 0.001). Serum iron levels were 8.89 ± 5.03 g/L in the epilepsy group, which were also lower than those in the nonepilepsy group (13.71 ± 6.70 mmol/L, P = 0.002). The hemoglobin level was positively correlated with serum iron on admission (ρ = 0.321, P = 0.000). In the multivariate logistic regression model, lower hemoglobin was considered as an independent risk factor of acute seizures (odds ratio 4.286, 95% confidence interval 1.492–12.315, P = 0.007). The optimal cutoff value for hemoglobin level as a predictor for acute epilepsy after aSAH was determined as 119 g/L in the receiver operating characteristic curve (sensitivity was 75.00%, and specificity was 69.48%). These data support the hypothesis that hemoglobin was inversely associated with acute seizures following aSAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We tested the hypothesis that cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors are associated with a greater incidence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Methods Patients with intracranial tumors (ITs) undergoing computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance imaging were enrolled in an observational cohort study that prospectively collected age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, cerebral arteriosclerosis, tumor type, tumor location, hydrocephalus, smoking, alcohol intake, CPA tumor size, cerebral aneurysms, and cerebral arteriosclerosis. Patients with the coexistence of IA and IT were classified as group II, whereas the others with IT as group I. Results We included 1218 patients with IT for analysis. The incidence of IA was 7.1% (86/1218). A total of 31% of patients with aneurysms had CPA tumors. In a multivariate logistic regression model, a greater incidence of IA was found in female patients (odds ratio [OR] 1.726, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.050–2.836, P = 0.031) and in patients with CPA tumors (OR 3.002, 95% CI 1.822–4.947, P = 0.000) after adjustment for tumor type, cerebral arteriosclerosis, and age. In female patients, CPA tumors were a unique independent risk factor of a greater incidence of IA (OR 2.270, 95% CI 1.194–4.317, P = 0.012). Furthermore, cerebral arteriosclerosis was a unique independent risk factor of IA in patients with CPA tumors (OR 7.626, 95% CI 2.928–19.860, P = 0.000). Conclusions These data support the hypothesis that CPA tumors are associated with a greater incidence of unruptured IAs, especially in female patients. Cerebral arteriosclerosis contributed to elevated risk of IA in patients with CPA tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We tested the hypothesis that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is associated with intracranial aneurysm growth and rupture. Methods We used an observational cohort study design. Age, sex, admission systolic blood pressure (SBP), diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, aneurysmal rupture, apolipoprotein (APO)-A1, APO-B, HDL, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, cholesterol, and aneurysm location and size were recorded. Aneurysms <8 mm were categorized as small. Results The data from 581 patients with intracranial aneurysms were analyzed. The predictive factors for small size of aneurysms were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 0.630; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.428–0.927; P = 0.019) and higher HDL (OR, 0.327; 95% CI, 0.159–0.672; P = 0.0002). In the subgroup of male patients, lower HDL was the only risk factor for large size (P = 0.015). The predictors of aneurysmal rupture were small size (OR, 0.875; 95% CI, 0.842–0.910; P = 0.000), higher HDL (OR, 3.716; 95% CI, 1.623–8.509; P = 0.002), no coronary artery disease (OR, 4.736; 95% CI, 1.528–14.681; P = 0.007), lower APO-A1 (OR, 0.202; 95% CI, 0.064–0.641; P = 0.007), and higher admission SBP (OR, 1.024; 95% CI, 1.015–1.032; P = 0.000). An HDL/aneurysm size ratio >0.31 was associated with a 46.2-fold increased likelihood of aneurysmal rupture (OR, 46.214; 95% CI, 13.386–159.548; P = 0.002). Conclusions The HDL level was inversely associated with intracranial aneurysm growth, especially in men. Higher HDL levels and small aneurysm size contributed to a greater risk of aneurysmal rupture. An HDL/size ratio >0.31 was a valuable predictor of intracranial rupture. Highlights • HDL levels were inversely associated with intracranial aneurysm growth. • Male sex showed a tendency toward increasing aneurysm size. • Higher HDL, small aneurysm, no CAD, lower APO-A1, and higher admission SBP increased aneurysmal rupture risk in our patients. • HDL/aneurysm ratio >0.31 is a valuable predictor of intracranial rupture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the anatomy and clinical application of monolateral pterional keyhole approaches for treating bilateral cerebral aneurysms. Methods Twelve formalin-fixed cadaveric heads underwent right pterional keyhole approaches for management of simulative contralateral aneurysms. The length of the contralateral middle cerebral artery (MCA), distal internal carotid artery (DICA), anterior cerebral artery, and ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery (OICA) was recorded. The operability of contralateral aneurysms was assessed using a modified numeric grading system. A total of 16 patients (12 patients with ruptured aneurysms) with bilateral cerebral aneurysms undergoing contralateral pterional keyhole approaches were included. Results The contralateral A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery, proximal A2 segment, M1 segment of the MCA, DICA, and OICA was exposed via pterional keyhole approaches. An additional 2 mm of the OICA was exposed after incision of the falciform dural fold was completed. Contralateral aneurysms of the M1 segment (posterior), M2 segment, MCA bifurcation (inferior), A2 segment (lateral), DICA (posterior and lateral), and OICA (superior, inferior, and lateral) could not be fully exposed to perform simulated surgical clipping (operability rate <75%). A total of 36 aneurysms underwent adequate surgical clipping via unilateral pterional keyhole approaches, whereas 1 aneurysm of the A3 segment did not. Conclusions Contralateral aneurysms of the M1 segment (anterior, superior, and inferior), MCA bifurcation (superior and lateral), A1 segment, A2 segment (anterior, posterior, and medial), internal carotid artery bifurcation, DICA (anterior and medial), and OICA (medial) were fully exposed from different angles and surgical maneuvers were performed via pterional keyhole approaches, including in patients presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]