Abstract
Intracranial aneurysms are complex in origin, involving the interaction of several genes and environmental factors, and therefore belong to a common disease. Among hereditary connective tissue diseases, only autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease has proved to be associated with intracranial aneurysm. Two genes, PKDJ (85% of cases) and PKD2 (15% of cases), have been identified and characterized. To date no susceptibility genes related to intracranial aneurysms are found in other common types of aneurysms. Three genome-wide linkage studies have identified genetic loci for intracranial aneurysms on 7g11, 14q22, 5q22-31 in our Japanese, on 19g13.3 in a Finnish, and 17cen, 19g13, Xp22 in other Japanese study. These genetic loci include some interesting candidate genes such as ELN. These candidate genes should be confirmed in largescale association studies in different ethnic groups and roles of them should be studied further.
