Correlation between ventricular enlargement and white matter changes

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• White matter changes, including periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH), are common findings on MRI.
• The clinical significance of these changes in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is not fully understood.
• Investigating these changes in a healthy population can provide a baseline for comparison.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between ventricular size and white matter changes in neurologically normal adults.
• To identify clinical factors influencing ventricular enlargement and white matter changes.

Main Methods:

• MRI scans were performed on 683 neurologically normal adults (mean age 59).
• Evans' index was used to measure ventricular size.
• The severity of PVH and DWMH was graded.
• Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

• A weak but significant correlation was found between Evans' index and the grading of both PVH (rho=0.24) and DWMH (rho=0.24).
• Age, diastolic blood pressure, Evans' index, and a history of hypertension significantly impacted PVH grade.
• Age and a history of hypertension were significantly related to DWMH grade.
• An independent correlation between ventricular enlargement and PVH was observed in normal adults.

Conclusions:

• Ventricular enlargement shows an independent correlation with periventricular hyperintensity in healthy adults.
• Factors such as age, blood pressure, and hypertension history influence white matter changes.
• The findings in a normal population may indicate preclinical disease, but their relevance to normal pressure hydrocephalus requires further investigation.