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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Applied Neuroimaging
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1417186

Associations between semi-quantitative evaluation of intracranial arterial calcification and total cerebral small vessel disease burden score: a retrospective case-control study

Provisionally accepted
Peng Chen Peng Chen 1Tiejun Liu Tiejun Liu 1*Yin Wei Yin Wei 1*Zhen Ma Zhen Ma 2*Tao Lu Tao Lu 1*Suxi Lan Suxi Lan 1*Jinling Xie Jinling Xie 1*Shen Mo Shen Mo 1*
  • 1 Department of Radiology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China
  • 2 Department of Ultrasound, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background and Purpose: Arteriosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease (aCSVD) is a cause of cognitive impairment, dementia, and stroke. Developing a better understanding of the risk factor of aCSVD is key to reducing the incidence of these conditions. This study investigated the association between intracranial arterial calcification (IAC) and total cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden score. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study, The subjects were transient ischemic attack (TIA) or acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. The data of 303 inpatients admitted to our study hospital between December 2018 and July 2020 were analyzed. Four imaging markers of CSVD (lacunes, white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, and enlarged perivascular spaces) were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging, and a total CSVD burden score was calculated. The experimental group was divided into four subgroups according to total CSVD burden score (1-4 points). Patients without CSVD (0 points) served as the control group. Head computerized tomography (CT) scans were used to assess ICA, using Babiarz's method. The correlations between IAC and single imaging markers of CSVD were determined using Spearman's rank correlation.Binary logic regression analysis and multivariate ordered logic regression analysis were used to determine the associations between IAC and aCSVD. Results: IAC was positively correlated with total CSVD burden score (r = 0.681), deep white matter hyperintensities (r = 0.539), periventricular white matter hyperintensities (r = 0.570), cerebral microbleeds (r = 0.479), lacunes (r = 0.541), and enlarged perivascular spaces (r = 0.554) (all P < 0.001). After adjusting for the confounding factors of age, diabetes, and hypertension, aCSVD was independently associated with IAC grade 1-2 [odds ratio (OR) = 23.747, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.376 -67.327)] and IAC grade 3-4 (OR = 30.166, 95% CI = 8.295 -109.701). aCSVD severity was independently associated with IAC grade 3-4 (OR = 4.697, 95%CI = 1. 349 -16.346). Conclusion: IAC is associated with the total CSVD burden score and single imaging signs.

    Keywords: cerebral small vessel disease1, Intracranial arterial calcification2, magnetic resonance imaging3, Computed tomography4, White matter hyperintensities5

    Received: 14 Apr 2024; Accepted: 15 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Chen, Liu, Wei, Ma, Lu, Lan, Xie and Mo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Tiejun Liu, Department of Radiology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China
    Yin Wei, Department of Radiology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China
    Zhen Ma, Department of Ultrasound, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China
    Tao Lu, Department of Radiology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China
    Suxi Lan, Department of Radiology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China
    Jinling Xie, Department of Radiology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China
    Shen Mo, Department of Radiology, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital, Nanning, China

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