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CT, MRI exams show correlation between arterial calcifications and white matter lesion volume
Bos D. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011;doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.232728.
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Arterial calcifications in different vessel beds contribute to white matter lesion volume and the presence of cerebral infarcts, according to a study.
Based on the Rotterdam Study, researchers viewed CT and MRI exams of the coronary artery, aortic arch, and extracranial and intracranial carotid arteries of 885 participants to assess arterial calcification. Researchers also performed brain MRIs to assess cerebral infarcts, microbleeds and white matter lesions. A custom-made plug-in was used to view intracranial internal carotid arteries. The mean age of participants in the study was 67 years.
Of the 885 participants, only nine did not have calcification in any vessel bed, and all arterial calcification was associated with the presence of cerebral infarcts. Participants also had larger white matter lesion volumes with increasing calcification volumes. Researchers found that intracranial carotid calcification had the most prominent association with white matter lesions and extracranial carotid calcification with infarcts. The researchers found no associations between calcifications and the presence of microbleeds; however, associations with vascular brain disease on MRI were partly interrelated with calcification in different vessel beds. Overall, calcification load differed substantially between men and women, correlations being moderate and higher in men than in women.
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