Effect of cerebrovascular risk factors on regional cerebral blood flow.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively investigate which cerebrovascular risk factors are related to regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), as measured noninvasively with arterial spin-labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, in a large group of patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease.


METHODS
Ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. One hundred thirty consecutive patients (107 men, 23 women; mean age, 58 years +/- 10 [standard deviation]) with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease were included in the study. Cerebrovascular risk factors (body mass index, carotid artery stenosis, diabetes mellitus, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and smoking) were assessed by means of a questionnaire and physical, ultrasonographic, and laboratory examinations. The control group consisted of 10 subjects (eight men, two women; mean age, 58 years +/- 15) without symptomatic atherosclerotic disease. rCBF measurements were performed with ASL MR imaging. The effects of the individual cerebrovascular risk factors on the rCBF were assessed by using linear regression analysis.


RESULTS
Hypertension was significantly associated with higher rCBF (adjusted beta = 6.5 mL/min/100 g; 95% confidence interval: 1.4 mL/min/100 g, 11.7 mL/min/100 g). Hyperhomocysteinemia was significantly related to lower rCBF (adjusted beta = -7.4 mL/min/100 g; 95% confidence interval: -12.7 mL/min/100 g, -2.1 mL/min/100 g). No significant associations between rCBF and the other cerebrovascular risk factors were found.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease, hypertension is related to higher rCBF and hyperhomocysteinemia is related to lower rCBF.
van Laar
Peter Jan
PJ
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. p.j.vanlaar@umcutrecht.nl
van der Graaf
Yolanda
Y
Mali
Willem P T M
WP
van der Grond
Jeroen
J
Hendrikse
Jeroen
J
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012307:Risk Factors