Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of early vascular embolization for intracranial aneurysms and the effect of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) on nerve function. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis study. A total of 90 patients with intracranial aneurysms admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were selected as research subjects. The patients were divided into a control group (n=47) and an observation group (n=43) according to different embolization timing. Both groups were treated with vascular embolization, the observation group received vascular embolization within 72 h after onset, while the control group received vascular embolization after 72 h. In addition, both groups were given clopidogrel bisulfate tablets and enteric-coated aspirin tablets from the day after operation for 3 months. The embolization at 3 months after operation, the occurrence of complications, the daily activities and neurological function before and 3 months after operation, serum levels of MMP-9 and NF-κB, the protein expression of MMP-9 and NF-κB, and the prognosis at 3 months after operation were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The complete embolization rate (90.70%) in observation group was higher than that of the control group (72.34%) at 3 months after operation (P<0.05). The postoperative complications in the observation group (9.30%) were lower than those of the control group (27.66%) (P<0.05). The improvement in Modified Barthel index score, as well as serum levels of MMP-9 and NF-κB were better in the observation group than those of the control group 3 months after operation (P<0.05). The prognosis of patients in the observation group was better than those of the control group 3 months after operation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Early vascular embolization is an effective approach for intracranial aneurysm. It helps improve patients' neurological function, and reduce their serum and protein levels of both MMP-9 and NF-κB, thereby leading to favorable prognosis.