Abstract
Objective: Hypertension is reported to be a risk factor of cerebral white matter lesions (PVH and DSWMH). We examined other risk factors of white matter lesions using data from brain dock examinees. We also investigated an association between blood pressure level of hypertensive examinees and chronological changes in white matter lesions.
Methods: The subjects were 110 brain dock examinees who visited our clinic in 2011.We studied an association between cerebral white matter lesions and risk factors for atherosclerosis using white matter progression scores (4 stages for both PVH and DSWMH). We also evaluated the chronological progression of white matter lesions and studied an association between blood pressure and progression of white matter lesions.
Results: In a group with white matter lesions, age and levels of SBP, LDL-C, TC and HbA1c were significantly higher than in a group without them. Significant development of white matter lesions was seen in the group with white matter lesions compared to the group without them. In hypertensive examinees, no significant difference was seen in chronological development of cerebral white matter lesions between a well-controlled group (BP < 140/90 mmHg) and a poorly controlled group (BP≥ 140/90 mmHg).
Conclusion: Elderly examinees with high-grade cerebral white matter lesions should be followed up continuously because their white matter lesions develop chronologically. Our findings suggested that cerebral white matter lesions in hypertensive examinees developed chronologically even if their blood pressure had been well controlled. They also suggested that other risk factors besides hypertension were aging, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking and metabolic syndrome.
