Highlights
- •Antibiotic treatment only of mycotic aneurysms had regression or resolution of aneurysm in 28%.
- •Longer antibiotic treatment before aneurysm discovery was associated with regression or resolution of mycotic aneurysm.
- •Saccular morphology of mycotic aneurysm was associated with persistence or growth of aneurysm.
- •Rupture rate of aneurysm during valve repair may be lower than previously thought.
Abstract
Introduction
Infectious intracranial aneurysm (IIA, or mycotic aneurysm) is a cerebrovascular complication
of infective endocarditis. We aimed to describe the clinical course of IIAs during
antibiotic treatment.
Methods
We reviewed medical records of persons with infective endocarditis who underwent cerebral
angiography at a single tertiary referral center from 2011 to 2016. Aneurysms were
followed with subsequent angiography for unfavorable outcome (growth, rupture, no
change, or new IIA formation) or favorable outcome (regression or resolution) until
endovascular therapy, aneurysm resolution, or end of observation.
Results
Of 618 patients included, 40 (6.5%) had 43 IIAs. Eighteen (42%) aneurysms underwent
initial endovascular treatment. Twenty-five unruptured aneurysms were followed for
a median 18 antibiotic days after IIA discovery (interquartile range [IQR] 4–32).
Eleven (44%) aneurysms had unfavorable outcome (1 rupture, 2 new IIA formation, 6
enlargement, and 2 no change) at median 21 days (IQR 5–32). Favorable angiographic
outcome was seen in 7 (28%) patients (6 resolution, 1 regression) at median 36 days
(IQR 24–41). Seven aneurysms had no angiographic reevaluations but showed no evidence
of rupture during clinical follow-up for median 4 days (IQR 3–12) until hospital discharge.
Saccular morphology was associated with unfavorable aneurysmal outcome (p = 0.013).
Longer duration of antibiotic exposure prior to IIA discovery was associated with
favorable aneurysmal outcome (p = 0.046).
Conclusion
IIAs represent a dynamic disease. Only a quarter of IIAs resolve with antibiotics
alone. Saccular aneurysmal morphology might predict unfavorable aneurysmal outcome.
IIA found after longer antibiotic therapy has higher likelihood of resolution or regression
on antibiotic treatment.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 05, 2019
Accepted:
June 4,
2019
Received in revised form:
May 29,
2019
Received:
March 25,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
