BACKGROUND: The purpose of our research was to evaluate the relationships between blood viscosity and recanalization of coiled intracranial aneurysms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included consecutives patients treated endovascularly by a team of experienced neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists due to brain aneurysm. A total of 50 patients (the average age was 57.48 years, SD=13.71) were assigned to 2 groups: group A with recanalization (4 male and 8 female patients) and group B without recanalization (10 male and 28 female patients) were examined. All patients underwent a 6-month follow-up of the whole-blood viscosity test with a Brookfield DV III+pro cone-plate viscometer using the Rheocalc program. Differences between groups were assessed using the Statistica 12 computer program (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA).

RESULTS: Studies have shown no significant difference in the age range between group A and B (P=0.31). In group A, higher viscosity values were found for whole blood [median: 4.14 dyn×sec/cm² (mPa×sec) quartile range 0.42], compared to group B [median: 3.92 dyn×sec/cm² (mPa×sec); quartile range 0.40; (P=0.04)]. This difference was significant (P=0.04). Additionally, the level of hematocrit was positively related with recanalization, the higher the hematocrit, the more frequent recanalization. A very strong and statistically significant relationship occurred between the frequency of recanalization and smoking (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of higher values of whole blood viscosity which increase turbulent flow through the vessels may be a risk for recanalization of the coiled intracranial aneurysm.

Keywords: Angiography, intracranial aneurysm, Neurosurgery, Rheology, Balloon Occlusion, Blood Viscosity, Cerebral Angiography, endovascular procedures, Follow-Up Studies, Pilot Projects, Recurrence, Risk Factors, Smoking