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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases
Published on: December 6, 2016
Small vessel disease: neuropathology
1Hospital Ruber Internacional, Madrid, Spain. dave_munoz@yahoo.com
Insights
Diseases affecting small cerebral blood vessels have diverse causes and symptoms. These conditions can lead to hemorrhages, lacunae, microinfarcts, and leukoaraiosis, impacting brain health.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Cerebral small vessel diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders.
- They affect various small blood vessel types, including those involved in lipohyalinosis, venous collagenosis, amyloid angiopathy, and Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the etiology, manifestations, and consequences of small cerebral blood vessel diseases.
- To highlight the key pathological outcomes and potential pathogenetic mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on cerebral small vessel diseases.
- Classification of different angiopathies and their clinical and pathological consequences.
Main Results:
- Small vessel diseases encompass lipohyalinosis, venous collagenosis, amyloid angiopathy, and CADASIL.
- Major consequences include large and small hemorrhages, lacunae, cortical microinfarcts, and leukoaraiosis.
- Altered vascular permeability and ischemia are implicated in pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Cerebral small vessel diseases are diverse and lead to significant neurological deficits.
- Understanding these conditions is crucial for diagnosis and management of cerebrovascular disorders.
Abstract:
Diseases of small cerebral blood vessels are heterogeneous in etiology and manifestations. Lipohyalinosis, venous collagenosis, amyloid angiopathy, and CADASIL affect different populations of blood vessels. Large and small hemorrhages, lacunae, cortical microinfarcts, and leukoaraiosis are the most important consequences of the small vessel angiopathies. Altered permeability as well as ischemia may be involved in the pathogenesis of the latter.
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