title: Elevated leukocyte count in asymptomatic subjects is associated with a higher risk for cerebral white matter lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are radiologic markers of small vessel disease in brain, and inflammatory processes were related to WMLs. We propose to determine if elevated leukocyte count was associated with a higher risk of WMLs.
  
  
  METHODS
  1586 asymptomatic subjects who visited our hospital for a routine health check-up were enrolled. Leukocyte counts were measured and the presence of moderate to severe WMLs was determined by brain MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty (1.9%) had moderate to severe WMLs, and a significant greater proportion (4.1%) of subjects in the highest leukocyte count quartile had moderate to severe WMLs. After adjusting by C-reactive protein, aspirin use and cardiovascular risk factors, the highest quartile of leukocyte count (≥6.7×10⁹/L) was significantly associated with moderate to severe WMLs compared with the lowest quartile [adjusted odds ratio, 4.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-15.5].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors report for the first time that an elevated leukocyte count is independently associated with moderate to severe WMLs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chi Kyung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Beom Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wi-Sun
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byung-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Byung-Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein