scholarly journals White matter hyperintensity reduction and outcomes after minor stroke

Neurology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 1003-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna M. Wardlaw ◽  
Francesca M. Chappell ◽  
Maria del Carmen Valdés Hernández ◽  
Stephen D.J. Makin ◽  
Julie Staals ◽  
...  

Objective:To assess factors associated with white matter hyperintensity (WMH) change in a large cohort after observing obvious WMH shrinkage 1 year after minor stroke in several participants in a longitudinal study.Methods:We recruited participants with minor ischemic stroke and performed clinical assessments and brain MRI. At 1 year, we assessed recurrent cerebrovascular events and dependency and repeated the MRI. We assessed change in WMH volume from baseline to 1 year (normalized to percent intracranial volume [ICV]) and associations with baseline variables, clinical outcomes, and imaging parameters using multivariable analysis of covariance, model of changes, and multinomial logistic regression.Results:Among 190 participants (mean age 65.3 years, range 34.3–96.9 years, 112 [59%] male), WMH decreased in 71 participants by 1 year. At baseline, participants whose WMH decreased had similar WMH volumes but higher blood pressure (p = 0.0064) compared with participants whose WMH increased. At 1 year, participants with WMH decrease (expressed as percent ICV) had larger reductions in blood pressure (β = 0.0053, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00099–0.0097 fewer WMH per 1–mm Hg decrease, p = 0.017) and in mean diffusivity in normal-appearing white matter (β = 0.075, 95% CI 0.0025–0.15 fewer WMH per 1-unit mean diffusivity decrease, p = 0.043) than participants with WMH increase; those with WMH increase experienced more recurrent cerebrovascular events (32%, vs 16% with WMH decrease, β = 0.27, 95% CI 0.047–0.50 more WMH per event, p = 0.018).Conclusions:Some WMH may regress after minor stroke, with potentially better clinical and brain tissue outcomes. The role of risk factor control requires verification. Interstitial fluid alterations may account for some WMH reversibility, offering potential intervention targets.

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria D Valdes-Hernandez ◽  
Paul A Armitage ◽  
Eleni Sakka ◽  
Susana Munoz Maniega ◽  
Natalie A Royle ◽  
...  

Background: Volume measures of normal brain tissue and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) between two time points gives limited information about the complex dynamics of tissue change. We evaluated two quantitative parameters that characterise the microstructure of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), deep grey matter (DGM) and WMH on brain images obtained at presentation with minor stroke and at 1 year to investigate the microstructural changes. Methods: From 182 brain MRI datasets of patients with minor stroke obtained at baseline and 1 year, we extracted the WMH, DGM and NAWM, and separated WMH into less-intense and intense WMH, using validated semi-automatic methods and validated criteria. We registered the binary structural masks to diffusion space and performed a voxel-wise subtraction of the combined masks at both time points. Then we measured fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD)(valuex10 -9 m 2 /s) in each tissue mask at baseline and 1 year. Results: WMH volume median increase was 1.4ml (IQR 6.98) mainly due to changes in less-intense WMH: 0.94ml (7.13). WMH that were visible at both time points, ie damage that remained after a year, had the lowest FA= 0.21(0.06) and highest MD=1.05(0.12) at baseline, and were mainly intense WMH at baseline (FA=0.12(0.03), MD=1.55(0.27)). WMH seen only at follow-up, ie that were NAWM at baseline, had the highest FA=0.30(0.06) and lowest MD=0.85 (0.06) at baseline. WMH that were observed only at baseline had intermediate FA=0.26(0.08) and MD=0.90(0.10). NAWM FA=0.26(0.03), MD=0.78(0.04) and DGM FA=0.23(0.03), MD=0.79(0.06) did not change between time points. Conclusions: WMH at baseline can partially evolve to normal-appearing tissues, remain or precede tissue loss. Differentiation between severe and subtle damage and spatial analysis are necessary to characterise the dynamic of WMH evolution.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle C Kern ◽  
Clinton B Wright ◽  
Richard Leigh

Background: Stroke causes focal and diffuse structural brain changes that may contribute to subsequent cognitive decline and dementia. We hypothesize that MRI structural measures can detect continued cerebral degeneration over the first year after stroke. We identify predictors for progression of brain atrophy, leukoaraiosis and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics. Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled prospectively in an observational study that included serial brain MRI. Patients underwent MRI FLAIR and DTI at the time of acute stroke and were followed for at least 9 months with multiple MRIs between 30 days and 15 months post-stroke. We used FLAIR to measure brain atrophy as the percent brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) of the total intracranial volume (TICV) and white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) as a percentage of TICV. DTI was used to calculate Peak Skeletonized Mean Diffusivity (PSMD), a global measure of white matter integrity previously validated in cerebral small vessel disease. Longitudinal changes in BPF, WMHV or PSMD were measured from 30 days post-stroke onward using linear regression models that included age, stroke volume, baseline BPF and WMHV as predictors. Results: Twenty-six patients had a median of 4 follow-ups over 9-15 months. Median age was 74 years (range 51-84) and 38% were women. Mean stroke volume was 4.5cc (0 - 30cc). Mean BPF was 78% (72 - 86%) and mean baseline WMHV was 1.1% (0.1 - 3.9%). BPF was associated with age and declined by 0.7% per year (t(111) = 2.7, p = 0.007). Progression was associated with baseline BPF (t(111) = -3.4, p < 0.001). WMHV in the non-stroke hemisphere was associated with age and increased by 0.10% per year (t(87) = -5.8, p < 0.001). Accumulation was associated with age (t(87) = 5.8, p < 0.001). PSMD was associated with baseline WMHV and had a relative increase of 1.9% per year in the non-stroke hemisphere and 4.5% in the stroke hemisphere (t(174) = -2.1, p = 0.03). Progression was associated with age (t(174) = 2.3, p = 0.03) and stroke volume (t(174) = 2.4, p = 0.02). Conclusions: During the months after ischemic stroke, BPF, WMHV and PSMD can detect persistent structural changes that may reflect later phases of stroke injury or ongoing contributions of aging, silent ischemia, or neurodegeneration.


Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. e272-e282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Zamboni ◽  
Ludovica Griffanti ◽  
Sara Mazzucco ◽  
Sarah T. Pendlebury ◽  
Peter M. Rothwell

ObjectiveTo investigate if the association between MRI-detectable white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and cognitive status reported in previous studies persists at older ages (>80 years), when some white matter abnormality is almost universally reported in clinical practice.MethodsConsecutive eligible patients from a population-based cohort of all TIA/nondisabling stroke (Oxford Vascular Study) underwent multimodal MRI, including fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging, allowing automated measurement of WMH volume, mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) in normal-appearing white matter using FSL tools. These measures were related to cognitive status (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) at age ≤80 vs >80 years.ResultsOf 566 patients (mean [range] age 66.7 [20–102] years), 107 were aged >80 years. WMH volumes and MD/FA were strongly associated with cognitive status in patients aged ≤80 years (all p < 0.001 for WMH, MD, and FA) but not in patients aged >80 years (not significant for WMH, MD, and FA), with age interactions for WMH volume (pinteraction = 0.016) and MD (pinteraction = 0.037). Voxel-wise analyses also showed that lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores were associated with frontal WMH in patients ≤80 years, but not >80 years.ConclusionMRI markers of white matter damage are strongly related to cognition in patients with TIA/minor stroke at younger ages, but not at age >80 years. Clinicians and patients should not overinterpret the significance of these abnormalities at older ages.


Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
pp. e917-e926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank J. Wolters ◽  
Hazel I. Zonneveld ◽  
Silvan Licher ◽  
Lotte G.M. Cremers ◽  
M. Kamran Ikram ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo determine the long-term association of hemoglobin levels and anemia with risk of dementia, and explore underlying substrates on brain MRI in the general population.MethodsSerum hemoglobin was measured in 12,305 participants without dementia of the population-based Rotterdam Study (mean age 64.6 years, 57.7% women). We determined risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) (until 2016) in relation to hemoglobin and anemia. Among 5,267 participants without dementia with brain MRI, we assessed hemoglobin in relation to vascular brain disease, structural connectivity, and global cerebral perfusion.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 12.1 years, 1,520 individuals developed dementia, 1,194 of whom had AD. We observed a U-shaped association between hemoglobin levels and dementia (p = 0.005), such that both low and high hemoglobin levels were associated with increased dementia risk (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)], lowest vs middle quintile 1.29 [1.09–1.52]; highest vs middle quintile 1.20 [1.00–1.44]). Overall prevalence of anemia was 6.1%, and anemia was associated with a 34% increased risk of dementia (95% CI 11%–62%) and 41% (15%–74%) for AD. Among individuals without dementia with brain MRI, similar U-shaped associations were seen of hemoglobin with white matter hyperintensity volume (p = 0.03), and structural connectivity (for mean diffusivity, p < 0.0001), but not with presence of cortical and lacunar infarcts. Cerebral microbleeds were more common with anemia. Hemoglobin levels inversely correlated to cerebral perfusion (p < 0.0001).ConclusionLow and high levels of hemoglobin are associated with an increased risk of dementia, including AD, which may relate to differences in white matter integrity and cerebral perfusion.


Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (24) ◽  
pp. e2119-e2126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nutta-on Promjunyakul ◽  
Hiroko H. Dodge ◽  
David Lahna ◽  
Erin L. Boespflug ◽  
Jeffrey A. Kaye ◽  
...  

ObjectiveWe aimed to describe and compare baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) and microstructural characteristics of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) within the vulnerable periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PVWMH) penumbra region in predicting white matter hyperintensity (WMH) growth over time.MethodsFifty-two patients, aged 82.8 years, underwent serial brain MRI, including pulsed arterial spin labeling and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). New WMH and persistent NAWM voxels in relation to WMH penumbra at follow-up were identified. Mean baseline CBF and DTI variables of the new WMH and persistent NAWM voxels were computed. Univariate analyses with paired t tests were performed. Generalized estimating equation analyses were used to compare the relationships of baseline CBF, and structural penumbras with WMH growth, controlling for confounders.ResultsLow baseline CBF and fractional anisotropy, and high mean diffusivity (MD), were independently associated with new PVWMH voxels, with MD being the best predictor of WMH growth. A separate model demonstrated that radial diffusivity had the strongest relationship with WMH growth compared with CBF and axial diffusivity.ConclusionCBF and DTI measures independently predict WMH growth over time. DTI is a more sensitive predictor of WMH growth than CBF, with WMH progression likely due to demyelinating injury secondary to low perfusion. Findings support the use of MD as a sensitive marker of NAWM vulnerability in future trials aimed at preserving WM integrity.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin S Aribisala ◽  
Maria C Valdes Hernandez ◽  
Natalie A Royle ◽  
Susana Maniega ◽  
Mark Bastin ◽  
...  

Background: White matter lesions (WML) are associated with hypertension. Blood pressure (BP) is transmitted to the brain via the carotid arteries, and autoregulation helps protect the brain. We investigated if BP via carotid waveform parameters were associated with WML. Methods: We obtained BP measurements from a cohort of community dwelling subjects at mean ages 70±1 and 73±1 years; brain MRI and carotid artery ultrasound at mean age 73±1 years. We calculated mean values of BP (systolic, diastolic, mean, variability and pulsatility), measured WML by volume, and Fazekas scale. We calculated internal carotid artery (ICA) mean blood flow velocity, pulsatility index (PI), and resistivity index (RI). We tested associations between BP and ICA flow parameters and WML using multiple linear regression, corrected for intracranial volume (ICV), age, gender, BMI, previous MI, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, PVD and stroke. Results: Amongst 694 subjects, diastolic and mean BP decreased and hence BP pulsatility increased significantly between ages 70 and 73 years. Lower diastolic BP and higher BP pulsatility were associated with higher ICA PI (standardized β, age 70= -0.24, age 73= -0.19, both p<0.001; age 70 β=0.18, p<0.001, age 73 β=0.10, p=0.008 respectively). WML volume was weakly associated with BP at age 70 (diastolic β=0.08, systolic β=0.08, mean β=0.09, all p<0.05) but not with BP variability or pulsatility. Similar but weaker associations were seen at age 73. After adjusting for BP, larger WML volume was associated with higher ICA PI (β=0.10, p=0.012), but not any other measures. All associations were the same for WML Fazekas scores. Conclusions: The relatively weak association between BP and WML may be mediated via ICA pulsatility which is largely driven by falling diastolic BP. This questions the nature of the apparent link between BP and WML.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000348942110189
Author(s):  
Jung Woo Lee ◽  
Deoksu Kim ◽  
Seokhwan Lee ◽  
Sung-Won Choi ◽  
Soo-Keun Kong ◽  
...  

Objectives: To assess the clinical value of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH) found on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Methods: In this prospective study, 115 patients who were diagnosed with SSNHL aged between 55 and 75 years were analyzed. All subjects underwent brain MRI and were divided into a PWMH and control groups, depending on the presence of PWMH on MRI. PWMH was subdivided into 3 groups according to severity. Pure-tone average results and hearing gain were compared between the 2 groups before treatment and 2 months after treatment. Hearing improvement was assessed using Sigel’s criteria. Results: A total of 106 patients (43 in the PWMH group and 63 in the control group) finally completed the 2-month follow-up. Average hearing gain in the PWMH group was significantly higher than in the control group (34.8 ± 20.3 and 25.9 ± 20.3, respectively, P = .029). PWMH score 1 showed significantly better hearing levels and hearing gain compared to PWMH score 3 and the control group. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, better initial hearing level, and the presence of PVWM score 1 were associated with good recovery. Conclusions: The presence of PWMH score 1 on brain MRI in patients with SSNHL was associated with better treatment response and was a good prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis while the hearing recovery in more severe PWMH (scores 2, 3) was not different from the control group.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison L Herman ◽  
Adam H De Havenon ◽  
Guido J Falcone ◽  
Shadi Yaghi ◽  
Shyam Prabhakaran ◽  
...  

Introduction: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are linked to cognitive decline and stroke. We hypothesized that Black race would be associated with greater WMH progression in the ACCORDION MIND trial. Methods: The primary outcome is WMH progression in mL, evaluated by fitting linear regression to WMH volume on the month 80 MRI and including the WMH volume on the baseline MRI. The primary predictor is patient race, with the exclusion of patients defined as “other” race. We also derived predicted probabilities of our outcome for systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels. Results: We included 276 patients who completed the baseline and month 80 MRI, of which 207 were white, 48 Black, and 21 Hispanic. During follow-up, the mean number of SBP, LDL, and A1c measurements per patient was 21, 8, and 15. The mean (SD) WMH progression was 3.3 (5.4) mL for blacks, 2.5 (3.2) mL for Hispanics, and 2.4 (3.3) mL for whites. In the multivariate regression model (Table 1), Black, compared to white, patients had significantly more WMH progression (β Coefficient 1.26, 95% CI 0.45-2.06, p=0.002). Hispanic, compared to white, patients did not have significantly different WMH progression (p=0.392), nor was there a difference when comparing Hispanic to Black patients (p=0.162). The predicted WMH progression was significantly higher for Black compared to white patients across a mean SBP of 117 to 139 mm Hg (Figure 1). Conclusions: Black diabetic patients in ACCORDION MIND have a higher risk of WMH progression than white patients across a normal range of systolic blood pressure.


Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Fotiadis ◽  
Aaron Schultz ◽  
Trey Hedden ◽  
Sergi Martinez-Ramirez ◽  
Yael Reijmer ◽  
...  

Background/Purpose: Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA) leads to leukoaraiosis, lacunar infarcts and cortical tissue loss. We hypothesized that CAA is also associated with white matter atrophy (WMA). Methods: We have compared volumetric multimodal MRIs from 72 prospectively enrolled non-demented patients with probable CAA (per Boston criteria), to 3 other well-studied cohorts: 289 Healthy Controls (HC) from the Harvard Aging Brain (HAB) study, 231 HC and 198 patients with AD from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Validated FreeSurfer algorithms were used to calculate White Matter Volume (WMV), white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHv), and cortical thickness. Microbleeds (MBs) were counted on SWI-MRI. Measures were obtained from the contralateral hemisphere if intracerebral hemorrhage present. All volumes were corrected for total intracranial volume (ICV), so reported as percent of ICV. Results: The CAA patients were significantly younger (mean age: 70.1) compared to both HC cohorts (ADNI-HC: 76.0, p<0.001, HAB-HC: 73.8, p < 0.001), and to patients with AD (75.5, p < 0.001). Despite being younger, patients with CAA presented significantly lower global WMV (28% ± 2.6) than both ADNI-HC (29.2% ± 2.2, p < 0.001), HAB-HC (29.0% ± 2.5, p = 0.001), and patients with AD (28.7% ± 2.2, p = 0.02) [Figure]. The association persisted after correcting for age, gender and WMHv. Within the CAA cohort, there was a negative correlation between WMV and lobar MB counts (rho = -0.26, p = 0.03), it remained significant after correcting for age, gender, WMHv (p=0.016). There were no significant associations however between WMV and neither WMHv, nor cortical thickness (both p>0.2). Conclusions: Patients with CAA show WMA when compared to older HC and AD. WMA independently correlates with MBs, a marker of CAA severity. Consistent spatial patterns of atrophy especially in posterior regions when compared to both HC and AD [Figure] might represent the “WMA signature of CAA”.


2017 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 788-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert I. Block ◽  
Vincent A. Magnotta ◽  
Emine O. Bayman ◽  
James Y. Choi ◽  
Joss J. Thomas ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundAnesthetics have neurotoxic effects in neonatal animals. Relevant human evidence is limited. We sought such evidence in a structural neuroimaging study.MethodsTwo groups of children underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging: patients who, during infancy, had one of four operations commonly performed in otherwise healthy children and comparable, nonexposed control subjects. Total and regional brain tissue composition and volume, as well as regional indicators of white matter integrity (fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity), were analyzed.ResultsAnalyses included 17 patients, without potential confounding central nervous system problems or risk factors, who had general anesthesia and surgery during infancy and 17 control subjects (age ranges, 12.3 to 15.2 yr and 12.6 to 15.1 yr, respectively). Whole brain white matter volume, as a percentage of total intracranial volume, was lower for the exposed than the nonexposed group, 37.3 ± 0.4% and 38.9 ± 0.4% (least squares mean ± SE), respectively, a difference of 1.5 percentage points (95% CI, 0.3 to 2.8; P = 0.016). Corresponding decreases were statistically significant for parietal and occipital lobes, infratentorium, and brainstem separately. White matter integrity was lower for the exposed than the nonexposed group in superior cerebellar peduncle, cerebral peduncle, external capsule, cingulum (cingulate gyrus), and fornix (cres) and/or stria terminalis. The groups did not differ in total intracranial, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid volumes.ConclusionsChildren who had anesthesia and surgery during infancy showed broadly distributed, decreased white matter integrity and volume. Although the findings may be related to anesthesia and surgery during infancy, other explanations are possible.


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