Berry aneurysm- cirrhosis- pulmonary emphysema- and cerebral calcification

Overview

A very rare syndrome characterized primarily by brain aneurysms, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary emphysema and calcification of the brain (cerebrum).

Symptoms

* Short stature * Delayed development * Seizures * Neurological symptoms * Ruptured cerebral aneurysm

Causes

Aneurysm, cerebral: Causes (Handbook of Diseases) Cerebral aneurysms may result from a congenital defect, a degenerative process, or a combination of both. For example, hypertension and atherosclerosis may disrupt blood flow and exert pressure against a congenitally weak arterial wall, stretching it like an overblown balloon and making it likely to rupture. Such a rupture is followed by subarachnoid hemorrhage, in which blood spills into the space normally occupied by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Sometimes, blood also spills into brain tissue and subsequently forms a clot. This may result in potentially fatal increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and brain tissue damage. These aneurysms are slightly more common in women than in men, especially those in their late 40s or early to middle 50s, but a cerebral aneurysm may occur at any age, in women and men.