Logo image
The effect of aspirin on aneurysm wall enhancement: A study in rabbits and humans
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The effect of aspirin on aneurysm wall enhancement: A study in rabbits and humans

Elena Sagues, Diego Ojeda, Andres Gudino, Carlos Dier, Navami Shenoy, Arshaq Saleem, Ramanthan Kadiervel, Sebastian Sanchez, Maria B Torres, Vance T Lehman, …
Interventional neuroradiology
05/13/2025
DOI: 10.1177/15910199251341035
PMCID: PMC12120354
PMID: 40356451
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/12120354View
Open Access

Abstract

ObjectiveAneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) is a potential biomarker of inflammation within the aneurysm wall that has been correlated with a higher risk of rupture. Aspirin (ASA) may decrease AWE due to its anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to assess the effect of ASA on AWE in an animal model and a cohort of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).MethodsThree rabbits with elastase-induced aneurysms were exposed to ASA for 8 weeks and three rabbits were used as controls. 3 T high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) was performed at 7 days and 8 weeks to evaluate changes in AWE through histological and immunohistological analyses. Additionally, we evaluated AWE in patients who underwent imaging with a 3 T HR-MRI protocol. ASA exposure was defined as daily intake of 81 mg for at least six months prior to HR-MRI. AWE was quantified using three-dimensional AWE maps and histograms.ResultsAmong rabbits exposed to ASA, the mean AWE was lower at 8 weeks compared to the controls (2.11 vs 2.15,  = 0.13). Immunostaining of the aneurysm wall in rabbits that received ASA revealed a reduced expression of CD68 + or cyclooxygenase-2 + cells, compared to the controls. A total of 99 patients with 120 UIAs were included in the HR-MRI analysis of UIAs. UIAs exposed to ASA (22/120) had significantly lower median AWE than those that were not exposed (0.60 vs 0.72,  = 0.032).ConclusionASA therapy is associated with an objective reduction in AWE, suggesting a potential role in lowering the risk of aneurysm rupture.
Inflammation macrophages vessel wall imaging subarachnoid hemorrhage

Details

Metrics

Logo image