AUTHOR=Mao Fan , Xu Zhihua , Shao Meihua , Xiang Xuelian , Zhou Xiaoli 

TITLE=Deep medullary veins score is associated with atrophy in patients with cerebral small vessel disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1417805

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2024.1417805

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Objective</title><p>To explore the relationship between the deep medullary vein (DMV) score and atrophy in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>Imaging and clinical data from 125 patients with CSVD from January to December 2022 were reviewed. Normalized gray matter volume (GM_N) was calculated by dividing the gray matter volume by the whole brain volume. DMV scoring is conducted using susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, wherein the DMV area is partitioned into six distinct regions: bilateral frontal, parietal, and occipital regions. Each region undergoes assessment based on the clarity and consistency of DMV visibility. Subsequently, the scores from these six regions are summed, resulting in a score ranging from 0 to 18 points.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>DMV score was associated with GM_N (<italic>r</italic> = −0.376, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Comparisons among patients according to GM_N tertiles, differences in gender, age, current smoking, DMV score, and total CSVD magnetic resonance imaging score were demonstrated (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Adjusting for age, gender, vascular risk factors, and total CSVD MR score, the DMV score was independently associated with GM_N [<italic>β</italic> (95% CI): −0.347 (−0.525, −0.168), <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001].</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>DMV scores are independently associated with GM_N, and DMV dysfunction may play a role in brain atrophy.</p></sec>