Leukoaraiosis in stroke patients hospitalized in stroke unit

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors for leukoaraiosis, and its correlation with the score of neurological impairment in the acute stroke patients population.

Materials and methods: The analysis included 100 patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke hospitalized in the stroke unit of the MSW Hospital in Rzeszow from 01.10.2011 to 31.12.2011. All the patients had a CT scans, were neurologically examined using the international stroke scale NIHSS. Demographic, environmental and clinical data of each patient were assessed using the author’s spreadsheet. A group of 41 people (25 women and 16 men) with white matter changes - leukoaraiosis (LA) was divided into two subgroups: patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The presence of lacunar lesions and comorbidities was assessed in this population. The results were analyzed statistically.

Results: The average age of patients with stroke and leukoaraiosis was 78.4 years of age and was significantly higher than the age of patients with stroke without periventricular white matter changes (72.7 years). Leukoaraiosis was present in 62% of women and 39% of men. Based on chi-square test it was confirmed that being a female is a factor predisposing to white matter changes - LA. Malacic ischemic lesions were more frequent in patients with leukoaraiosis (51.3%) comparing to the group of patients with normal CT scans of white matter (33%). The average and the highest scores of neurological deficit in patients with stroke and LA (respectively 10 and 26) were lower than in patients without white matter changes (scores respectively:12.0 and 37). The most common comorbidities associated with leukoaraiosis were hypertension (87.8%) and hypercholesterolemia (65.8%), which appeared respectively in 6.8% and 23.7% of patients with normal CT of white matter. The prevalence of other diseases like coronary heart disease, diabetes, circulatory insufficiency, dementia, hypothyreosis and hyperthyreosis were more frequent in patients without the pathological changes in white matter.

Conclusions: Gender and age are important leukoaraiosis risk factors. The frequency of LA in the studied population was 41%. Leukoaraiosis predisposes to ischemic stroke with lower neurological deficit. Lacunar ischemic lesions are more frequent in patients with periventricular white matter changes. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are the most common comorbidities coexisting with leukoaraiosis.

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