Lenticulostriate artery combined with neuroimaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease differentiate the pathogenesis of recent subcortical infarction

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2021 Aug;41(8):2105-2115. doi: 10.1177/0271678X21992622. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Abstract

Recent subcortical infarction (RSI) in the lenticulostriate artery (LSA) territory with a non-stenotic middle cerebral artery is a heterogeneous entity. We aimed to investigate the role of LSA combined with neuroimaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in differentiating the pathogenic subtypes of RSI by whole-brain vessel-wall magnetic resonance imaging (WB-VWI). Fifty-two RSI patients without relevant middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis on magnetic resonance angiography were prospectively enrolled. RSI was dichotomized as branch atheromatous disease (BAD; a culprit plaque located adjacent to the LSA origin) (n = 34) and CSVD-related lacunar infarction (CSVD-related LI; without plaque or plaque located distal to the LSA origin) (n = 18). Logistic regression analysis showed lacunes (odds ratio [OR] 9.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71-54.72; P = 0.010) and smaller number of LSA branches (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.96; P = 0.034) were associated with of BAD, whereas severe deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMH) (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.71; P = 0.021) was associated with CSVD-related LI. In conclusion, the LSA branches combined with lacunes and severe DWMH may delineate subtypes of SSI. The WB-VWI technique could be a credible tool for delineating the heterogeneous entity of SSI in the LSA territory.

Keywords: Cerebral small vessel disease; lenticulostriate artery; pathogenesis; subcortical infarction; vessel-wall magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebral Arteries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / pathology*
  • Logistic Models
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic / diagnostic imaging
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic / pathology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Stroke, Lacunar / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke, Lacunar / pathology