Is there a relationship between aneurysms and multiple sclerosis?

Here is My Question:
I am 67 and in July and August I was in the hospital because I had an aneurysm. I also have MS. I was told by doctors at the hospital that it could not have been caused by my MS. Is this true? Also, I was told by one doctor, this could NEVER happen again. Then, I told him my mother had an aneurysm and then he said "well, now that I know your history" but never said anything else. After I left, I wondered "why" he said that. I would really appreciate your opinion. I certainly pray that never happens again, since I know I am very lucky to be sitting here. Would I benefit from Having an MRI yearly? Thank you so much!

Answer:
There is no relationship between the development of intracerebral aneurysms and Multiple Sclerosis. Aneurysms are usually found incidentally in Multiple Sclerosis patients during a routine MRI scan. An aneurysm must be a certain size before it is typically visible on a routine MRI scan, since MR angiograms are not part of our routine MRI evaluation for MS. When you say you “had” an aneurysm last August during a hospitalization, I assume this means it was either clipped during a surgical procedure or a coil was placed in the aneurysm during an interventional cerebral angiogram. If this is the case, the aneurysm should not return. It is also unlikely that new aneurysms will develop at your age.

Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
University of California San Diego