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White matter hyperintensities and recurrent stroke risk in patients with stroke with small‐vessel disease
Author(s) -
Park J.H.,
Heo S. H.,
Lee M. H.,
Kwon H. S.,
Kwon S. U.,
Lee J. S.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.13908
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , hazard ratio , hyperintensity , cardiology , magnetic resonance imaging , white matter , confidence interval , radiology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Background and purpose White matter hyperintensities ( WMH ) are a predictor of stroke among elderly individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the association between WMH severity and the risk of recurrent vascular events among Asian patients with ischaemic stroke with small‐vessel disease ( SVD ) including micro/macrobleeds and lacunes. Methods Data from participants ( n = 1454) in the PICASSO (PreventIon of CA rdiovascular Events in iS chemic Stroke Patients with High Risk of Cerebral HemOrrhage) trial were reviewed. The severity of WMH in baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging scans was assessed using the Fazekas scale. The association between WMH severity and stroke (ischaemic or hemorrhagic) and major vascular events ( MVE s) (a composite of stroke/myocardial infarction/vascular death) was assessed. Results Study patients had a significant burden of SVD: Fazekas score 0 ( n = 2), 1 ( n = 426), 2 ( n = 650) and 3 ( n = 376) [median Fazekas score 2 (mean follow‐up, 1.9 ± 1.3 years)]. The stroke incidence rate per 100 personyears was 2.6 in the Fazekas 0–1 group, 3.6 in the Fazekas 2 group and 7.0 in the Fazekas 3 group, and the rates for MVEs were 3.3, 4.3 and 7.6, respectively. Compared with the Fazekas 0–1 group, the Fazekas 3 group was associated with a higher risk of stroke [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19–3.88; P = 0.011], ischaemic stroke (adjusted HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.07–4.15; P = 0.031), hemorrhagic stroke (adjusted HR, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.09–12.70; P = 0.036) and MVEs (adjusted HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.20–3.66; P = 0.010). Conclusion Advanced WMH in Asian patients with ischaemic stroke with SVD burden was associated with an increased risk of recurrent vascular events. It may exert an effect as a prognostic indicator in high risk of recurrent vascular events.