News Release

Northwestern Memorial Hospital participates in international brain aneurysm study

NMH is the only hospital in Illinois to collaborate in NIH study to identify the genes that cause this silent killer

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Northwestern Memorial HealthCare

(CHICAGO) – The Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is participating in one of one of the world's largest aneurysm research studies to identify the genes that cause the development and rupture of brain aneurysms – "blisters" that form within arteries of the brain and can rupture and kill without a moment's notice. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the Familial Intracranial Aneurysm (FIA) Study is a collaborative research effort involving 23 centers throughout the world. Nationally, doctors aim to enroll 400 families – or about 3,200 individuals – with multiple affected family members over the next five years.

The most devastating complication of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), one of the three main subtypes of stroke. This rapid and massive bleeding in the space around the brain occurs in 16,000 to 17,000 people in the United States every year, killing nearly half within 30 days and leaving one-third of the survivors with severe disabilities.

"Accumulated evidence indicates that a genetic component plays an important role in the development of IAs. The goal of this study is to confirm a familial link, as well as identify which specific genes are responsible," said Hunt Batjer, M.D., Chair of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Professor of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and the principal investigator on this study. "If we are able to identify those who are genetically at high risk for the development of IAs, then we may be able to prevent aneurysm formation and/or intervene and treat aneurysms early, significantly reducing the substantial premature mortality and morbidity associated with this type of stroke."

To be eligible to participate in this research study, families must have two or more affected siblings or three or more family members affected with IAs. Participants are asked to complete a family history questionnaire and a medical history questionnaire. They also have their blood pressure taken and have a small sample of blood drawn and sent for sophisticated statistical and genetic (chromosome) analysis.

In addition, certain family members are offered the opportunity to have a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) to look for undiagnosed brain aneurysms. MRA is non-invasive, essentially carries no risk and is able to detect IAs as small as 2 to 3 millimeters. Five millimeters is thought to be the critical size for intracranial aneurysm rupture, but smaller aneurysms can cause significant bleeding.

The MRAs are performed using a 3T MR scanner, rather than a standard 1.5T MR scanner typically used for clinical as well as research applications. "The benefits of the 3T magnet include improved signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution and increased BOLD effect – all of which translate into a better "picture" – meaning we can detect smaller, more hidden aneurysms," said Eric Russell, M.D., Chair of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Professor of Radiology at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine.

Individuals with a family history of polycystic kidney disease, Marfan's syndrome, Ehler Danlos Syndrome, or fibromuscular dyslpasia are not eligible to participate in this study.

For further information regarding this research study, call 312-695-8143.

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About Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) is one of the country's premier academic medical centers and is the primary teaching hospital of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine where the research is funded. Northwestern Memorial and its Prentice Women's Hospital have 720 beds and more than 1,200 affiliated physicians and 5,000 employees. Providing care in a state-of-the-art facility, the hospital is recognized for its outstanding clinical and surgical advancements in such areas as cardiothoracic and vascular care, gastroenterology, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, organ and bone marrow transplantation, and women's health.

Northwestern Memorial was ranked as the nation's 5th best hospital by the 2002 Consumer Checkbook survey of the nation's physicians and is listed in the majority of specialties in this year's US News & World Report's issue of "America's Best Hospitals." NMH is also cited as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine and has been chosen by Chicagoans year after year as their "most preferred hospital" in National Research Corporation's annual survey.


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