Abstract TP202: Increased Pulse Pressure is Related to Higher Burden of Microvascular Brain Damage in Ischemic Stroke Patients

Abstract

Introduction: pulse pressure (PP), a marker of arterial stiffness, is a useful tool for measuring vascular aging. White matter hyperintensities (WMH), deep and periventricular, are the expression of subclinical ischemic brain damage. Hypotesis: our objective was to evaluate the relationship between pre-stroke blood pressure and the burden of WMH. Method: acute ischemic stroke patients, excluding TIA, were prospectively included in a multidisciplinary secondary stroke prevention program. Pre-stroke vascular risk factor profile and control were obtained from electronic medical records and the presence of WMH was evaluated on admission MRI. Periventricular hyperintensities (PVH) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMH) were classified according to Fazekas scale (0-3). A correlation analysis between different components of blood pressure and WMH was performed. Results: 808 patients (59% females, mean age 77±11 years) were included between January 2009 and December 2014. Main vascular risk factors were: hypertension (83%), dyslipemia (64%), obesity (52%), smoking (37%), metabolic syndrome (37%), diabetes (14%), AF (19%), CKD (45%), CHD (14%), stroke (10%), peripheral artery disease (12%). There was a positive correlation between PP values and the severity of PVH (R 0.93) and DWMH (R 0.95), but not with SBP (R 0.48 and R 0.50) and DBP (R 0.52 and 0.47). (figure) Conclusion: different blood pressure components may have different deleterious effects on large and small vessels. Pulse pressure, a pulsatile component mainly reflecting large artery stiffness and wave reflections, was the only component of blood pressure with a positive correlation with the burden of WMH in our cohort. As the world is aging, is mandatory to identify predictors of subclinical brain damage, which is related to increased risk of dementia, depression, stroke and gait disorders.