Abstract TP205: Association Between Morphological Variations of Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery and Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities

Abstract

Background: Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) often remain asymptomatic until they widely affect brain structure. The association between small and large vessel diseases is worth studying. We aimed to explore the relationship between morphological variations of extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) and WMHs. The classic evaluation system of artery variations failed to describe the compound abnormities, and therefore some novel parameters were proposed in this study. Methods: Neck CT angiography scans and brain MRI data of 97 patients with acute ischemic stroke were retrospectively analyzed. The angle of EICA, tortuosity index (TI), deviation degree (DD) and angular number (AN) were measured as parameters of artery morphological variations (Figure). The severity of WMHs was assessed by Fazekas Scale. Differences of vascular morphological variations between mild and severe white matter lesion groups and factors independently associated with WMHs were analyzed. Results: Compared with the patients with mild WMHs, patients with severe WMHs were older ( P =0.001), had higher average systolic blood pressure ( P =0.026), larger median TI ( P <0.001) and median DD ( P <0.001). Also, more patients with severe WMHs had sharp blood vessel angles ( P =0.001) and history of stroke ( P =0.034). Sharp blood vessel angle (OR 4.056, 95%CI 1.578-10.467) and TI (OR 1.037, 95%CI 1.007-1.068) were independently associated with severe WMHs proved by multivariate logistic analysis. Several regression models suggested that age and history of stroke had close relationship with WMHs. Conclusions: Sharp angle of EICA and TI were independently associated with severe WMHs. Besides, age and history of stroke were firmly related to white matter lesions.