Brain Aneurysms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Brain Aneurysms - Essay Example Without proper treatment, patients with ruptured aneurysms have limited functional survival. It has been estimated that only 18 percent are functional survivors at 10 years and 8 percent are disabled, the rest die (Vinas and Wilner, 2008). Thus, it can be said that aneurysms of brain have potential to cause death, debility and deformity. The risk factors can be inherited or acquired (Vega et al, 2002). The disease can occur as familial clustering with no other hereditary disease in the family. The cause for this is not yet known. Research has shown that the incidence of brain aneurysms is about 8-9 percent in those with more than one relative suffering from either an aneurysm or subarachnoid hemorrhage (Vega et al, 2002). Also, there are reports that siblings of affected individuals have higher chances of developing subarachnoid hemorrhage due to aneurysms. Thus it can be said that aneurysm has generic and hereditary links. It has been proposed that certain hereditary connective tissue disorders are associated with the development of aneurysms because of weakening of the vascular walls (Vinas and Wilner, 2008). Some research has shown that 10- 15 percent of patients with autosomal dominant condition polycystic kidney disease develop intracranial aneurysms (Vega et al, 2002). However another connective tissue disorde r Marfans syndrome which was incriminated in the development of brain aneurysms is no longer found to be associated with aneurysms (Vega et al, 2002). Other conditions which have been reported to be associated with brain aneurysms are fibromuscular dysplasia, coarctation of aorta and pheochromocytoma. It has been thought that the elevated blood pressure in these conditions is the cause for the development of aneurysms. Other inherited risk factors which have been incriminated in the development of aneurysms include alpha-glucosidase deficiency, Noonans syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Klineflters syndrome, alpha-1