Periventricular venous collagenosis: association with leukoaraiosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between an age-related degenerative disease of subependymal veins and leukoaraiosis.


METHODS
Brains obtained at autopsy from 22 patients (average age, 73.2 years; range, 25-95 years) were examined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and neuropathologic methods with alkaline phosphatase microvascular staining. The degrees of leukoaraiosis shown on MR images and of deep venous occlusion were scored independently and results compared with logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Noninflammatory collagenous thickening of venous walls resulting in severe periventricular venous stenosis was found in 13 (65%) of 20 patients over 60 years old. Advanced leukoaraiosis was found in 10 (77%) of these 13 patients. Greater venous disease was associated with more severe leukoaraiosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Periventricular venous collagenosis, a commonly observed and previously ignored degenerative disease of elderly humans, is strongly associated with leukoaraiosis. Stenosis or occlusion of deep cerebral veins may promote development of leukoaraiosis.
Moody
D M
DM
Department of Radiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1088.
Brown
W R
WR
Challa
V R
VR
Anderson
R L
RL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003094:Collagen