Clinical characteristics in subcortical ischemic white matter disease.
BACKGROUND
Vascular white matter lesions (WML) represent one of the main neuroimage findings in individuals older than 65 years and its clinical significance is still partially understood.


OBJECTIVE
To describe and analyze the clinical profile of a high severity sample with WML focusing on the frontal executive control.


METHODS
Outpatients (n=20) with high severity WML evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging were selected using the Fazekas scale.


RESULTS
Most patients (n=17; 85%) presented an altered Trail Making Test ratio (section B/section A); on verbal fluency, 15 individuals (75%) performed below the cutoff score. Apathy (5.9 +/- 4.65) and depression (3.05+/-3.67) were frequent as assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. The impairment in functional activities strongly correlated with apathy (r=0.814, p<0.001) and verbal fluency (r=0.744, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Executive dysfunction, apathy, and ratio depression were the main characteristics found. Extension of WML may have distinct impact on the clinical picture, but further studies with methodological adjustments are necessary to provide more definitive conclusions.
Alves
Gilberto Sousa
GS
Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. gsalves123@hotmail.com
Alves
Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira
CE
Lanna
Maria Elisa de Oliveira
ME
Ericeira-Valente
Letice
L
Sudo
Felipe Kenji
FK
Moreira
Denise
D
Engelhardt
Eliasz
E
Laks
Jerson
J
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index