Hypertension correlates with lenticulostriate arteries visualized by 7T magnetic resonance angiography.
Hypertension, a major risk factor for stroke, is associated with altered arterial anatomy and function; however, the limited resolution of current imaging techniques has restricted the in vivo study of microvascular changes in the brain. In this report, we quantitatively examined the lenticulostriate arteries in hypertensive patients using ultrahigh-field 7T MRI. We compared the number of stems and branches, curvature, and tortuosity of the lenticulostriate arteries by 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography among 20 hypertensive patients (mean age: 46.6+/-9.1 years) and 20 age-matched healthy subjects (mean age: 47.7+/-8.1 years). The average numbers of stems and branches in hypertensive patients were significantly less than those of healthy subjects (P<0.002). However, this difference was abolished in older volunteers (>45 years old), whereas the difference between young hypertensive patients (< or = 45 years old) and age-matched healthy controls was augmented by 55% for stems and 91% for branches (P=0.001). In comparison, there were no differences in the average curvature and tortuosity of the lenticulostriate arteries and no significant difference when corrected for smoking (P=0.064). In conclusion, our results showed that there was a substantial difference in the lenticulostriate arteries of hypertensive patients compared with healthy individuals when observed in vivo by ultrahigh-resolution 7T magnetic resonance angiography, and the difference was considerable in young subjects.
Kang
Chang-Ki
CK
Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
Park
Chan-A
CA
Lee
Hyon
H
Kim
Sang-Hoon
SH
Park
Cheol-Wan
CW
Kim
Young-Bo
YB
Cho
Zang-Hee
ZH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000098:blood supply*; D020144:Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects