The Severity of White Matter Lesions Possibly Influences Stroke Recurrence in Patients with Histories of Lacunar Infarctions.

Journal: Journal Of Stroke And Cerebrovascular Diseases : The Official Journal Of National Stroke Association
Published:
Abstract

Background: To investigate the recurrent stroke types associated with white matter lesions (WMLs), we prospectively observed recurrences in patients with histories of lacunar infarctions (LIs).

Methods: We prospectively analyzed the types of stroke recurrences in 305 patients (138 women, 70.2 ± 11.7 years old) consecutively admitted to our hospital with LIs from April 2004 to December 2011. WMLs were graded using Fazekas' grades (Gr). Recurrence-free rate curves were generated by the Kaplan-Meier method using the log-rank test.

Results: The follow-up period was 50.7 ± 32.8 (.25-114) months. During this period, 62 strokes recurred. The incidences of strokes (all types), LIs, and deep intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) presenting as recurrences in 112 patients with Gr 2-3 were 6.2, 2.0, and 1.5 %/year, respectively, values that were significantly greater than those seen in 79 patients with Gr 0 (2.1 [P = .0001], .6 [P = .014], and .5 %/year [P = .016], respectively), and in 114 patients with Gr 1 (2.8 [P = .003], .9 [P = .009], and .6 %/year [P = .043], respectively). There was no significant difference among Gr 0, 1, and 2-3 in incidences of recurrences presenting as lobar ICHs, atherothrombotic infarctions, or cardioembolic infarctions. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that Gr 2-3 significantly and independently elevated the rate of deep ICHs or LIs presenting as recurrences after adjustment for risk factors.

Conclusions: The presence of high-grade WMLs elevated the rate of stroke recurrences presenting as LIs and deep ICHs, but not other types.

Relevant Conditions

Stroke