title: Silent brain infarction in the presence of systemic vascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic brain ischaemic in the presence of vascular disease in other arterial territories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies up to January 2011 were identified through comprehensive search strategies. Arcsine transformation for meta-analysis was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each study, the proportion of patients positive for SBI in the presence of other systemic vascular disease was extracted and analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a random-effects model, a pooled effect estimate interpreted as a percentage prevalence of disease was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SBI in the presence of acute ischaemic stroke was found in 23% (SMD 0.99; P < 0.001; 95% CI 0.88-1.10); a 35% prevalence was found in patients with coronary artery disease (SMD 1.26; P < 0.001; 95% CI 0.95-1.58); and a 14% prevalence in patients with peripheral artery disease (SMD 0.48; P < 0.002; 95% CI 0.42-0.54), although the data-set in the latter is smaller.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with systemic vascular disease are at an increased risk of silent brain infarction.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College Cerebrovascular Research Unit (ICCRU), Department of Clinical Neurology, Imperial College London , London W6 8RF , UK.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slark
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma