Keywords:
Vascular, Ultrasound-Colour Doppler, Ultrasound, MR, Comparative studies, Arteriosclerosis, Geriatrics
Authors:
A. Hayirlioglu1, N. Özgür2, M. G. Yilmabasar1; 1Istanbul/TR, 2İstanbul /TR
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-2091
Purpose
Leukoaraiosis is characterized by white matter hyperintense lesions (WMHRL) on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the frequent finding of brain aging (1).
WMHRL indicate a strong relationship between age,
arterial hypertension,
diabetes and other vascular risk factors(2.3).
However,
the genetic predisposition is thought to be closely related in terms of leukoaraiosis.
Histological underlying causes are decreased myelin,
axonal loss and astrocytic gliyozis (4.5).
Population-based epidemiological studies,
suggests the link between cognitive performance,
psychomotor deceleration and balance disorder of elderly people who have WMHRL.
Healthy people of advanced age,
put forward a clear association between decreased mental performance and WMHRL (6).
The presence of WMHRL may be a risk factor for stroke(7,8).
Pathogenesis of WMHRL is not fully cleared.
Small vessel disease appear to be the main etiological factor of WMHRL(9),
also disruption of the blood brain barrier may have effect on the process (10).
However,
close association between the presence of atherosclerosis in the large arteries,
the deep white matter infarcts and leukoaraiosis are well establised (8,11-15).
Any large arterial disease wich cause white matter ischemia could be an indirect factor in the development of leukoaraiosis.
Arterial tromboembolization leading to irreversible hemodynamic changes may play a secondary role in this mechanism.
In our study,
in patients with patchy hyperintensities which tended to coalesce,
compatible with leukoaraiosis on MRI,
intima-media thickness,
types of atherosclerotic plaque and stenosis of the internal carotid arteries were measured.
We aim to analyse prospectively the relationship between the Leukoarios and extracerebral arterial system,
using a control group; to investigate the pathophysiology and risk factors of leukoaraiosis.