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Concordant Symptomatic Intracranial Aneurysm in a Monozygotic Twin: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Mark ter Laan
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Wilhelmina S. Kerstjens-Frederikse
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Jan D. M. Metzemaekers
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
J. Marc C. van Dijk
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Rob J. M. Groen*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. [email protected]
*
*Address for correspondence: Rob J. M. Groen, Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.

Abstract

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The development of an intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a multifactorial process, involving genetic and environmental factors. The presence of IA or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in twins is particularly interesting, since both genetic and environmental factors can be studied. It also raises the question of whether, when one twin is affected, the other asymptomatic twin should be examined for an IA. We report on a monozygotic (MZ) twin-pair with aSAH in both twins and we review all reported cases of IA in MZ twins. Including our case, we found only 14 MZ twin-pairs in which both twins harbored an IA, suggesting a heavy underreporting in the medical literature. In this small group, a high concordance was noted in the sites of IAs. In MZ twins, the preferred sites for IAs are the branching arteries, while aneurysms arising from fusion arteries are rare. These sites differ from the preferential sites seen in series of familial IAs and series of sporadic IAs. We therefore hypothesize that the twinning process might play a significant role in the development of IAs in MZ twins. To further explore and substantiate this, the large twin registries should be studied. Although IAs in MZ twins with a negative family history for IAs should not be regarded as familial IAs, screening of the asymptomatic twin should be seriously considered if one MZ twin presents with an aSAH or an IA, because of the high fatality rates reported in asymptomatic (and not screened) MZ twin-halves.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009