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01-03-2019 | Diagnostic Neuroradiology

Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and white matter MR hyperintensities in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective observational study

Authors: Hyunjung Yeoh, Ji Young Lee, Young-Jun Lee, Dong Woo Park, Tae Yoon Kim, Ga Young Ahn, Sang-Cheol Bae, Young Seo Kim, Hyun Young Kim, Chun K. Kim, Ji Young Kim, Haejin Kim, Ji Won Han

Published in: Neuroradiology | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

Purpose

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are known to be associated with small vessel diseases (SVD) and neuroinflammation. The purpose was to investigate the relationship between CMBs and WMH in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Thirty-one SLE patients with WMH and 27 SLE patients with normal brain MRI were compared. The presence, location, and grading of CMBs were assessed using susceptibility-weighted images. WMH volume was quantitatively measured. Clinical characteristics and serologic markers were compared. We also performed two separate subgroup analyses after (1) dividing WMH into inflammatory lesion vs. SVD subgroups and (2) dividing WMH into those with vs. without CMB subgroups.

Results

The WMH group showed more frequent CMBs than the normal MR group (p < 0.001). The WMH group showed higher SLE disease activity index, longer disease duration, and a higher incidence of antiphospholipid syndrome than the normal MR group (p = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively). There was a moderate correlation between WMH volume and CMB grading (r = 0.49, p = 0.006). Within the WMH group, the inflammatory lesion subgroup showed more frequent CMBs and larger WMH volume than the SVD subgroup (p < 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). The WMH with CMB subgroup had larger WMH volume than the WMH without CMB subgroup (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

In patients with SLE, CMBs could be related to large-volume WMH and inflammatory lesions. CMBs along with severe WMH could be used as an imaging biomarker of vasculitis in patients with SLE.

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Title: Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and white matter MR hyperintensities in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Hyunjung Yeoh
Ji Young Lee
Young-Jun Lee
Dong Woo Park
Tae Yoon Kim
Ga Young Ahn
Sang-Cheol Bae
Young Seo Kim
Hyun Young Kim
Chun K. Kim
Ji Young Kim
Haejin Kim
Ji Won Han
Publication date: 01-03-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Neuroradiology / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0028-3940
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1920
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-018-2130-1

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and white matter MR hyperintensities in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective observational study

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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