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Updated: May 29, 2026

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Prevalence and Risk Factors for Cerebral Microbleeds in Chinese Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Ruiming Zhu1,2, Yinglin Yang2,3, Xiaoyan Chen2

  • 1Department of Neurology, Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China.

Brain and Behavior
|May 28, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) affect nearly half of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients in northern China, with hypertension and severe white matter hyperintensity being key risk factors. This study highlights CMB prevalence and determinants in AIS, emphasizing the need for further research.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Stroke Medicine

Background:

  • Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are crucial markers in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
  • Limited data exists on CMB prevalence and risk factors in northern China.
  • This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding CMBs in northern Chinese AIS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of CMBs in a northern Chinese AIS cohort.
  • To identify independent risk factors associated with CMB presence.
  • To analyze the relationship between CMB characteristics and clinical/imaging variables.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 171 AIS patients.
  • Standardized 3.0 Tesla susceptibility-weighted MRI for CMB detection.
  • Collection and analysis of demographic, clinical, and imaging data.

Main Results:

  • CMB prevalence was 49.1% in the AIS cohort.
  • Hypertension (AOR=2.07) and severe white matter hyperintensity (WMH) (AOR=4.38) were independent risk factors for CMBs.
  • CMB burden and location correlated with stroke subtypes (LAA, SVD) and WMH severity.

Conclusions:

  • Approximately half of AIS patients in this cohort had CMBs, particularly those with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) or small vessel disease (SVD).
  • Hypertension and severe WMH are significant independent predictors of CMBs.
  • CMB burden and location offer insights into stroke etiology and pathophysiology, warranting further investigation.
Keywords:
acute ischemic strokecerebral microbleedshypertensionsusceptibility‐weighted imagingwhite matter hyperintensities

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