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BMC Neurology

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Open Access 01-12-2022 | Cerebral Small Vessel Disease | Research

Homocysteine is related to enlarged perivascular spaces in the brainstem in patients with isolated pontine infarction

Authors: Yunting Fu, Wenwei Yun, Zhixiang Zhang, Yi Ma, Lulu Xiao, Min Zhang, Wusheng Zhu

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

Homocysteine is correlated with several imaging features of cerebral small vessel disease including white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) in the basal ganglia. However, little is known about EPVS in the brainstem. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum total homocysteine (tHcy) and EPVS in the brainstem in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction.

Methods

Consecutive patients with isolated pontine infarction were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical characteristics and laboratory tests including tHcy were recorded. Imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease including EPVS in the basal ganglia (BG-EPVS), EPVS in the centrum semiovale, and EPVS in the midbrain or pons (brainstem-EPVS) were assessed using conventional magnetic resonance imaging. The relation between tHcy and EPVS of different parts in the brain was analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression model.

Results

A total of 227 patients were included (mean age 67.10 ± 9.38 years, male sex 58.6%). The frequencies of brainstem-EPVS and moderate to severe BG-EPVS accounted for 40.1% (91/227) and 40.5% (92/227) respectively. After controlling for confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that tHcy was an independent risk factor for both moderate to severe BG-EPVS (P = 0.003, P for trend < 0.001) and the presence of brainstem-EPVS (P < 0.001, P for trend < 0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, multivariate linear regression model indicated that the presence of brainstem-EPVS (β = 0.264, 95% confidence interval = 0.143-0.402, P < 0.001) and the severity of BG-EPVS (β = 0.162, 95% confidence interval = 0.024-0.197, P = 0.013) were positively associated with serum tHcy.

Conclusions

Serum tHcy is correlated with brainstem-EPVS and BG-EPVS dose-dependently. This study may support a contributing role for homocysteine in the pathophysiology of EPVS in the brainstem and the basal ganglia.

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Title: Homocysteine is related to enlarged perivascular spaces in the brainstem in patients with isolated pontine infarction
Authors: Yunting Fu
Wenwei Yun
Zhixiang Zhang
Yi Ma
Lulu Xiao
Min Zhang
Wusheng Zhu
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Published in: BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02744-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Homocysteine is related to enlarged perivascular spaces in the brainstem in patients with isolated pontine infarction

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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