title: Correlation Between the Reduction in Lenticulostriate Arteries Caused by Hypertension and Changes in Brain Metabolism Detected With MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension can alter the vascular structure, mechanics, and function of small arteries and arterioles. It remains unknown whether microvascular changes are associated with brain metabolism. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between the reduction in small arteries and changes in brain metabolism in patients with hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised 50 patients with hypertension and 50 volunteers without hypertension. The two groups underwent 3-T 3D time-of-flight MR angiography, and the numbers of lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) were determined for both groups. Single-voxel proton MR spectroscopic data on the basal ganglia regions were also acquired. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate to creatine (NAA/Cr), myo-inositol to creatine (Mi/Cr), and choline to creatine (Cho/Cr) were measured. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the differences between the two groups with respect to metabolite ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average total number of LSA stems on both sides in patients with hypertension was 5.12 ± 0.98 compared with 6.10 ± 0.95 in volunteers without hypertension (p < 0.0001). The NAA/Cr ratio decreased according to a reduction in the number of LSAs in the hypertension group, which was significantly reduced when the number of LSAs was 3 or fewer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension can lead to a statistically significant reduction in NAA/Cr ratio in the basal ganglia regions when the number of LSAs decreases to a certain extent. Reduced numbers of LSAs correlated with brain metabolism changes caused by hypertension, which can provide important insights for understanding the pathophysiologic mechanism of hypertension and may be valuable in evaluating this disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Rd, Shanghai, China, 200233.
authors.forename: Yuan-chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Rd, Shanghai, China, 200233.
authors.forename: Yue-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Rd, Shanghai, China, 200233.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Rd, Shanghai, China, 200233.
authors.forename: Wen-bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yi Shan Rd, Shanghai, China, 200233.
authors.forename: Jian-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020144:Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MR angiography; MR spectroscopy; brain metabolism; hypertension; lenticulostriate arteries