Science Letters

Distal hyperintense vessels influence white matter hyperintensities association with clinical outcome

Jiacheng Song 1, M. Pradeep Reddy 1, Huan Meng 1, Qian Wu 2, Feng Jiang 3, Zhanlong Ma 1*

1 The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Department of Radiology, No. 300, Guangzhou Road, 210029, Nanjing, China

2 The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Department of Neurology, Nanjing, China

3 The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nanjing, China

Abstract

Distal hyperintense vessels (HV) and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) were frequently observed in intracranial artery stenosis patients on MRI. We usually diagnose stroke radiologically focus mainly on the infarction itself, but it is imperative to keep in mind that the additional changes that take place are worthy and important and add a high value in the prognosis of stroke. WMHs and HV were frequently observed in most situations in middle cerebral artery occlusion patients, but were paid no major attention. All acute stroke patients with routine MRI of middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1 occlusion from January 2012 to October 2014 were recorded. The extent of HV, p-WMHs and d-WMHs were taken into consideration. The clinical severity and prognosis were measured in accordance to ASPECTS score, NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). More prominent HV were associated with younger age. Higher grade of WMHs was related to the relatively lower grade of HV, and bad prognosis. The presence of abundant HV with alleviated WMHs can help in the prediction of good stroke prognosis.

Keywords: White matter hyperintensities, hyperintense vessels, acute stroke, collateral circulation.

Received July 07, 2015 Revised August 28, 2015 Published online first September 30, 2015

*Corresponding author: Zhanlong Ma Email: mazhanlong@126.com