Correlation Between Grades of White Matter Hyperintensities with Gray Matter Volume and Cognition in Patients with Arteriosclerotic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Kamal, Tamer A.; Abd Al Azziz, Al Siagy A.; Taha, Marwa M.; Abd Al Satar, Sherif A.

doi:10.21608/bmfj.2025.374441.2362

Correlation Between Grades of White Matter Hyperintensities with Gray Matter Volume and Cognition in Patients with Arteriosclerotic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Professor of Radiodiagnosis Faculty of Medicine- Banha University

² Professor of Radiodiagnosis Faculty of Medicine- Tanta University

³ (M.Sc. Tanta University)

⁴ Lecturer of Radiodiagnosis Faculty of Medicine - Banha University

10.21608/bmfj.2025.374441.2362

Abstract

Background: Arteriosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease (ACSVD) includes a range of syndromes affecting the brain's smallest blood vessels comprising arterioles, micro arteries, capillaries, and venules triggered by various etiologies. This study investigated cortical atrophy patterns in ACSVD by analyzing GMV variations across different WMH grades (using the Fazekas scale) through volumetric segmentation in multiple brain regions. The study also explored correlations between GMV reductions and cognitive impairment in ACSVD patients. Methods: This prospective study included 100 patients with WMH as indicative of ACSVD and 50 healthy control subjects matching age and sex distributions with the patient group. Results: Significant GMV reductions were observed in the right superior frontal and parietal lobes of ACSVD patients compared to controls (P = 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively), correlating with higher Fazekas scores and cognitive impairment. Conclusion: WMH-related GMV reductions, especially in frontal and parietal regions, contribute to cognitive impairment in ACSVD, highlighting the potential of advanced imaging for early detection and intervention.

Keywords