Original Paper

Leuko-Araiosis: Relationship with the Types of Focal Lesions Occurring in Acute Cerebrovascular Disorders
D. Leys^a, J.P. Pruvo^b, Ph. Scheltens^c, Ph. Rondepierre^a, O. Godefroy^a, X. Leclerc^b, J. De Reuck<sup>d

a</sup> Service de Neurologie B et
^b Service de Neuroradiologie, Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire de Lille, France;
^c Afdeling Neurologie, Vrije Universiteit Ziekenhuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
^d Afdeling Kliniek voor Neurologie, Universitaire Ziekenhuis, Gent, Belgium

Address of Corresponding Author

Cerebrovasc Dis 1992;2:169-176 (DOI: 10.1159/000109010)

  Key Words

• Leuko-araiosis
• Leukoencephalopathy
• White matter
• Stroke
• Cerebrovascular disorders
• CT scan

  Abstract

To test the hypothesis that leuko-araiosis is associated with small-vessel disease, we prospectively studied whether it is related to the type of focal lesions in 322 consecutive patients with a first acute cerebrovascular event. Using CT scans without contrast and univariate analysis, we found a relationship between leuko-araiosis and increasing age and cerebral atrophy (both: p < 0.001); patients with leuko-araiosis are more likely to have hypertension (odds ratio (OR) and 99% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–2.35) and lacunes (99% CI-OR: 1.58–2.94) and less likely to be free of focal lesions (99 % CI-OR: 0.32–0.91). The stepwise regression revealed four independent variables of leuko-araiosis: age, lacunes, cerebral atrophy and deep hemorrhages (all: p < 0.01) but not hypertension (p = 0.11). This supports the hypothesis that leuko-araiosis is mainly supported by small-vessel changes in stroke patients.

Copyright © 1992 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Didier Leys, Service de Neurologie B, Hôpital B, F–59037Lille (France)

  Article Information

Received: September 21, 1991
Accepted: October 23, 1991
Number of Print Pages : 8