Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensity in Males is Associated with Post-Stroke Depression Onset at 3 Months
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Updated: Oct 11, 2026

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: September 16, 2017
Xuan-Qiang Tu1, Ze-Hua Lai1, Yu Zhang2
1Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore the correlation between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and post-stroke depression (PSD) at 3 months, and to further investigate sex differences in the pathogenesis of PSD.
Methods:
A total of 238 consecutive patients with acute cerebral infarction were recruited. PSD was assessed at 2 weeks and at 3 months after stroke onset. All stroke cases were divided into four subgroups according to the diagnosis of depression at two time nodes: continuous depression; depression remission; late-onset PSD; and continuous non-depression. The Fazekas and Scheltens visual rating scales were adopted to assess WMH.
Results:
Logistic regression revealed that the presence of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PVWMH) at baseline in male patients was an independent risk factor for PSD at 3 months. Further subgroup analysis revealed that PVWMH was associated with late-onset PSD in males, but not with continuous depression 3 months after stroke. Male acute stroke patients with PVWMH at baseline were more likely to develop PSD at 3 months, especially late-onset PSD.
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that sex differences may influence the pathogenesis of PSD.
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