[Correlation between periventricular lucency and extracranial arterial lesions]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Vascular Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Periventricular lucency (PVL) is a common finding in neuroimaging, often associated with cerebrovascular disease.
• Understanding the relationship between PVL and systemic vascular health is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between the extent of periventricular lucency (PVL) and arterial lesions in the carotid arteries and legs.
• To explore the potential progression from localized PVL to diffuse PVL.

Main Methods:

• Computed tomography (CT) was used to categorize PVL into localized (LPVL) and diffuse (DPVL) types in 45 patients.
• B-mode ultrasonography assessed carotid arteries for plaque, and the ankle pressure index (API) measured leg arterial status.
• Patients were compared to control groups: cerebral thrombosis without PVL (CTH) and no cerebrovascular lesions (NCT).

Main Results:

• The diffuse PVL (DPVL) group showed a higher incidence of hypertension and low ankle pressure index (API < 0.9) compared to controls.
• A significant majority of DPVL patients (82%) and LPVL patients (74%) had carotid artery lesions, predominantly nodular plaques, which was higher than in control groups.
• The degree of PVL correlated with both carotid and leg arterial lesions, with bilateral carotid lesions being more frequent in the DPVL group.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that arterial lesions contribute to the development and progression of PVL, potentially exacerbated by risk factors like hypertension.
• Localized PVL (LPVL) may serve as a precursor to diffuse PVL (DPVL).
• The study highlights the interconnectedness of PVL and systemic arterial disease, including Binswanger's disease.