Lipid Levels Are Regionally Associated with Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract

Lipid levels may be involved in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) etiology, which suggested that lipid levels may be associated with the etiology of microbleeds (MBs) in patients with ICH. To explore this, we examined the association between lipid levels and MBs in different cerebral regions in patients with ICH. Patients admitted to our hospital with ICH were consecutively and prospectively included. Demographic and clinical information were collected and analyzed according to the occurrence and location of MBs and levels of triglycerides (TGs). Of the 77 patients included in our study, 63 (81.8%) were found to have MBs. Prevalence of MBs in the "deep or infratentorial" region and any region increased with increasing tercile in TG concentration; however, no such trend was observed for strictly lobar MBs. The odds ratio (OR) for occurrence of MBs in deep or infratentorial region was even higher for the third tercile relative to the first: 6.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-34.96). The OR for occurrence of MB in any region was even higher for the third tercile relative to the first: 12.24 (95% CI 1.40-106.83). However, the OR for occurrence of deep or infratentorial region and any region in the second tercile relative to the first tercile did not reach significance. Moreover, TG levels did not appear to be associated with the occurrence of strictly lobar MBs. High TGs were associated with deep or infratentorial and any MBs but not with lobar MBs. This finding may shed light on the role of lipids in MB and ICH etiology.