Analysis of the factors influencing expansion of Virchow-Robin spaces in basal ganglia and central semiovale

Abstract

Objective To investigate the factors influencing expansion of Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS) in basal ganglia and central semiovale. Methods One hundred and ninety-six patients with acute single lacunar infarction were analyzed retrospectively from June 2015 to June 2019 in Fukuang General Hospital of Liaoning Health Industry Group (Seventh Clinical College of China Medical University). Among them, 108 patients with basal ganglia infarction and 88 patients with central semiovale infarction were included. MRI was used to evaluate the extent of VRS expansion. Univariate analysis and multivariable Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the related factors affecting VRS expansion in basal ganglia and central semiovale. Results Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in the female, proportion of hypertension, systolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) between the mild enlarged group (48 cases) and the severe enlarged group (148 cases) of VRS expansion in basal ganglia: 22 cases vs. 40 cases, 35.4%(17/48) vs. 78.4%(116/148), (138.7 ± 14.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs. (150.3 ± 12.0) mmHg and (26.7 ± 2.5) kg/m2 vs. (24.1 ± 2.2) kg/m2, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05 or <0.01); and there were significant differences in the proportion of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and BMI between the mild enlarged group (79 cases) and the severe enlarged group (117 cases) of VRS expansion in central semiovale (P<0.05). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension (OR=6.383, 95% CI 1.942 to 18.204, P=0.005), BMI (OR=0.768, 95% CI 0.620 to 0.938, P=0.010) significantly affected the expansion of VRS expansion in basal ganglia, while BMI significantly affected the expansion of VRS expansion in central semiovale (OR=0.784, 95% CI 0.642 to 0.921, P=0.003). Conclusions Hypertension is the independent risk factor of VRS expansion in basal ganglia, and BMI is the protective factor of VRS expansion in basal ganglia and central semiovale. Key words: Infarction, middle cerebral artery; Basal ganglia; Central semiovale; Virchow-Robin space; Risk factor