Brain microbleeds relate to higher ambulatory blood pressure levels in first-ever lacunar stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
Hypertension is an important risk factor for brain microbleeds (BMBs) in lacunar stroke patients. However, beyond the qualitative label "hypertension," little is known about the association with ambulatory blood pressure (BP) levels.


METHODS
In 123 first-ever lacunar stroke patients we performed 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring after the acute stroke-phase. We counted BMBs on T2*-weighted gradient-echo MR images. Because a different etiology for BMBs according to location has been suggested, we distinguished between BMBs in deep and lobar location.


RESULTS
BMBs were seen in 36 (29.3%) patients. After adjusting for age, sex, number of antihypertensive drugs, asymptomatic lacunar infarcts, and white matter lesions, we found 24-hour, day, and night systolic and diastolic BP levels to be significantly associated with the presence and number of BMBs (odds ratios 1.6 to 2.3 per standard deviation increase in BP). Distinguishing between different locations, various BP characteristics were significantly associated with the presence of deep (or combined deep and lobar) BMBs, but not with purely lobar BMBs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results underline the role of a high 24-hour BP load as an important risk factor for BMBs. The association of BP levels with deep but not purely lobar BMBs is in line with the idea that different vasculopathies might be involved. Deep BMBs may be a particular marker of BP-related small vessel disease, but longitudinal and larger studies are now warranted to substantiate these findings.
Staals
Julie
J
Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. j.staals@mumc.nl
van Oostenbrugge
Robert J
RJ
Knottnerus
Iris L H
IL
Rouhl
Rob P W
RP
Henskens
Léon H G
LH
Lodder
Jan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors