CD68 in cerebral aneurysms of smokers and non-smokers: an immunohistochemical analysis

Introduction: There is some evidence indicating that inflammation of the aneurysmal wall is related to aneurysmal growth and rupture. The presence of CD68 may indicate greater inflammatory activity. The objective of this study is to evaluate CD68 immunoexpression in surgically resected brain aneurysms and its association with smoking. Material and Methods: The ressected brian aneurysms walls after microsurgery clipping was envoyed to immunohistochemistry technique. The objective is to evaluate CD 68 and CD 34 antibodies expression. The associations between inflammatory markers, smoking and rupture were tested using Fischer's exact test. Results: CD68 immunoexpression on the tunica media was associated with larger aneurysms: 7.0 mm (7.0–9.0 mm) vs 5.0 mm (3.5–5 mm; p = 0.011). There was no statistically significant association between smoking and CD68 expression on the tunica media (p = 0.234) or on either the tunica media or tunica intima (p = 0.628). There was also no statistically significant association between hemorrhagic presentation of the aneurysm and CD68 expression on the tunica media (p = 0.689) or on either the tunica media or tunica intima (p = 0.348). Therefore, the presence of CD68-positive cells in aneurysmal walls indicates an association with size, especially if the tunica media is exclusively compromised (p = 0.011). Discussion and Conclusion: An immunohistochemistry technique for CD68 antibodies was used to determine histiocytic infiltration. Adequately powered studies are necessary to further investigate the association between CD68-positive cells and both smoking history and hemorrhagic presentation of aneurysms.