Possible association of beta-blockers use with risk of intracranial aneurysm rupture

ORIGINAL ARTICLE β -Blockers and subarachnoid hemorrhage 1 both, in whom screening computed tomography (CT) is not always possible, and who might benefit from pharmacological therapy.Currently, the only recommendations for patients with conservatively managed intracranial aneurysms are routine imaging controls, such as computed tomography, angriography, and magnetic resonance angiography and minimization of rupture risk factors. 6Few groups of medications, such as statins, 7 acetylsalicylic acid, 8 or anticoagulants were analyzed in SAH prevention, however, their impact on the risk of aneurysm rupture remains inconclusive. 6,9As hypertension is one of the most important modifiable risk factors of SAH, it was suggested INTROduCTION Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating type of stroke, with incidence in the general population of about 11 per 100 000. 1 It is associated with a 30%-40% mortality rate and poor treatment outcome in about 50% of survivors. 2,3In approximately 85% of the cases, SAH is caused by intracranial aneurysm rupture. 4 It is recommended that the unruptured intracranial aneurysms are treated by surgical or endovascular intervention. 5However, such treatment may in some patients be impossible due to various reasons.There are also groups of individuals, potentially burdened with a higher risk of hosting an aneurysm due to family history, hypertension, or