Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic Disease

Background and Purpose. White matter changes (WMCs), or leukoaraiosis (LA), are associated with increased age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and history of stroke. Although several lines of evidence suggest a role of atherosclerosis in atherothrombotic vascular events, their involvement in LA re...

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Main Authors: Einor Ben-Assayag, Milija Mijajlovic, Shani Shenhar-Tsarfaty, Irena Bova, Ludmila Shopin, Natan M. Bornstein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/532141
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author Einor Ben-Assayag
Milija Mijajlovic
Shani Shenhar-Tsarfaty
Irena Bova
Ludmila Shopin
Natan M. Bornstein
author_facet Einor Ben-Assayag
Milija Mijajlovic
Shani Shenhar-Tsarfaty
Irena Bova
Ludmila Shopin
Natan M. Bornstein
author_sort Einor Ben-Assayag
collection DOAJ
description Background and Purpose. White matter changes (WMCs), or leukoaraiosis (LA), are associated with increased age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and history of stroke. Although several lines of evidence suggest a role of atherosclerosis in atherothrombotic vascular events, their involvement in LA remains to be determined. Our study examines this association in ischemic stroke patients. Methods. One hundred and seventy consecutive ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients were included. All patients underwent brain computed tomography (CT) with assessment of the extension and severity of WMCs, carotid arteries duplex scan with measurements of intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques. Results. Seventy-two patients (42.4%) were found to have white matter lesions, of whom 28.8% had advanced LA. Mean IMT was significantly higher in patients with LA and with advanced LA (P=0.002, P=0.003, resp.). In addition, LA and LA severity were associated with existence of carotid plaque (P=0.007, P=0.004, resp.). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, including all vascular risk factors, LA was found to be associated with age and IMT. Conclusion. This study reinforces the tight association between LA and carotid atherosclerosis in ischemic stroke patients. We conclude that a chronic atherosclerotic disease underlies the pathophysiology of leukoaraiosis and its progression.
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spelling doaj-art-6b345725aea7422bbdb2aacc072bc5992025-08-20T02:23:59ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/532141532141Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic DiseaseEinor Ben-Assayag0Milija Mijajlovic1Shani Shenhar-Tsarfaty2Irena Bova3Ludmila Shopin4Natan M. Bornstein5Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, 64239 Tel Aviv, IsraelNeurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia and School of Medicine University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 6, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, 64239 Tel Aviv, IsraelDepartment of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, 64239 Tel Aviv, IsraelDepartment of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, 64239 Tel Aviv, IsraelDepartment of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, 64239 Tel Aviv, IsraelBackground and Purpose. White matter changes (WMCs), or leukoaraiosis (LA), are associated with increased age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and history of stroke. Although several lines of evidence suggest a role of atherosclerosis in atherothrombotic vascular events, their involvement in LA remains to be determined. Our study examines this association in ischemic stroke patients. Methods. One hundred and seventy consecutive ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients were included. All patients underwent brain computed tomography (CT) with assessment of the extension and severity of WMCs, carotid arteries duplex scan with measurements of intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques. Results. Seventy-two patients (42.4%) were found to have white matter lesions, of whom 28.8% had advanced LA. Mean IMT was significantly higher in patients with LA and with advanced LA (P=0.002, P=0.003, resp.). In addition, LA and LA severity were associated with existence of carotid plaque (P=0.007, P=0.004, resp.). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, including all vascular risk factors, LA was found to be associated with age and IMT. Conclusion. This study reinforces the tight association between LA and carotid atherosclerosis in ischemic stroke patients. We conclude that a chronic atherosclerotic disease underlies the pathophysiology of leukoaraiosis and its progression.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/532141
spellingShingle Einor Ben-Assayag
Milija Mijajlovic
Shani Shenhar-Tsarfaty
Irena Bova
Ludmila Shopin
Natan M. Bornstein
Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic Disease
The Scientific World Journal
title Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic Disease
title_full Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic Disease
title_fullStr Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic Disease
title_full_unstemmed Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic Disease
title_short Leukoaraiosis Is a Chronic Atherosclerotic Disease
title_sort leukoaraiosis is a chronic atherosclerotic disease
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/532141
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