Risk factors and hnaging features of silent brain infarction： a retrospective case-control study

Abstract

Objective To explore the risk factors and imaging features of silent brain infarction （SBI）. Methods The patient with SBI from the clinic were enrolled in the study, and the patients with symptomatic non-lacunar infarction served as controls. The risk factors and imaging features of both groups were compared. Results Among 145 patients with SBI, 133 （91.72%） had two or more lesions, mainly in the centrum semiovale （73.10%）. The proportion of patients with white matter lesions in the group of SBI in a single location was significantly lower than that in the group of SBI in multiple locations （41.67% vs. 73.68% ;X2 = 5. 484, P = 0. 019）. Compared to the patients with SBI, the age in patents with symptomatic non-lactmar infarction was older （72. 42 ± 11.79 vs. 67.03 ± 12. 04 years; t = 3.545, P = 0. 000）, the proportions of male （63.55% vs. 46. 21% ;X2 = 7. 447, P = 0. 006）, hypertension （80. 37% vs. 64. 14% ; X2 = 7. 887, P = 0. 005） and atrial fibrillation （31.78% vs. 8. 97%, X2 = 21. 113, P = 0. 000）, as well as the levels of fasting glucose （6. 09 ±1.23 mmol/Lvs. 5.65 ± 1.18 mmol/L; t = 2. 863, P = 0. 005）, total cholesterol （5.53 ± 0. 74 mmol/L vs.5.27 ±0. 90 mmol/L; t =2. 554, P = 0. 011）, triglycerides （1.89 ±0. 20 mmol/L vs. 1.77 ± 0. 18 mmol/L; t = 4. 910, P =0. 000） and homocysteine （1 4. 88 ±4. 97 mmol/L vs. 11.94 ±4. 61 mmol/L; t =4. 432, P =0. 000） were hiher. However, the lipoprotein （a） level was lower （0. 18 ±0. 06 g/L vs. 0. 27 ±0. 18 g/L; t = -5. 489, P =0. 000）. Among patients with SB1, 33.8% and 43.5% had lesions in two and three locations, respectively; among patients with symptomatic non-lacunar infarction, 66. 4% and 27. 1% had lesions in a single location and two locations, respectively （P 〈 0. 001）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lipoprotein （a） was the independent risk factor for SBI （odds ratio 5. 988, 95% confidence interval 2. 421 - 14. 706; P = 0, 000）. Conclusions Although they shared a variety of common risk factors, patients with SBI had less atherosclerotic risk factors than those with symptomatic non-lacunar infarction. Most patients with SBI had lesions in multiple locations. Key words: Cerebral Infarction; Risk Factors; Magnetic Resonance Imaging