Correlation between white matter lesions and hematoma volume in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between the severity of white matter lesions (WMLs) and the hematoma volume in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (age ≥40 years) who were included in the Image Registration Center, Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University School of medicine from June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2017 were enrolled retrospectively. The head CT and baseline head MRI data were collected within 12 h after onset. The volume of hematoma on the baseline CT was calculated using ITK-SNAP software. The WMLs volume was semi-automatically segmented and calculated in the WMLs area by MRIcron software and ITK-SNAP software. According to the Fazekas score, the severity of WMLs was divided into mild (0-2), moderate (3-4) and severe (5-6). According to the median volume of hematoma, the patients were divided into smaller hematoma volume group and larger hematoma volume group. The baseline data in patients of both groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent related factors of hematoma volume. Results Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and hematoma volume increased with the severity of WMLs, while the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased with the severity of WMLs. Hematoma volume was significantly associated with the NIHSS scores, apolipoprotein A1, D-dimer, WML volume, and intracerebral hemorrhage site. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high WML score (odds ratio [OR] 1.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002-1.008; P=0.049), intracerebral hemorrhage site (OR 1.441, 95% CI 1.090-1.911; P=0.010), and NIHSS score (OR 1.081, 95% CI 1.011-1.152; P=0.031) were the independent risk factors for larger hematoma volume. Conclusion The severity of WMLs was significantly positively correlated with the baseline hematoma volume in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Key words: Cerebral Hemorrhage; Leukoaraiosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Risk Factors