Análise da associação entre a carga de hipersinal na substância branca e o acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral white matter hyperintensities, which is part of the spectrum of small vessel disease, has been described in the literature as a biomarker for lacunar

ischemic stroke. Some studies question its association with more extensive non- lacunar ischemic infarcts. The main objective was to understand this association in a

population in the state of Maranhão. Additionally, to observe the association of high signal intensity in cerebral white matter with its main risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and advanced age. Method: Retrospective analysis of 176 brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans performed at a tertiary public hospital, in a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted between January 2022 and September 2024, including patients of both sexes aged 55 years or older, after approval by the ethics committee. Data were cataloged in an Excel spreadsheet and processed using StataNow 1.8 BE-Basic edition and Jamovi, employing Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis test, ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc analysis for the parametric variable identified in the Shapiro-Wilk test, logistic regression, and Fleiss's Kappa to verify inter-observer agreement. Results: A statistically significant association was observed between higher hypersignal load in the white matter and lacunar infarcts, but not with more extensive cerebral infarcts. Furthermore, a statistically significant association with age was also detected. Conclusion: In patients with a higher hypersignal load in the cerebral white matter, a greater number of lacunar infarcts are detected, especially in older patients.