White and minority survivors of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have significant differences in subtypes and severity of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), which has implications for ICH recurrence risk, according to a study published in Neurology. Researchers examined whether racial/ethnic differences in MRIdefined CSVD subtype and severity contribute to disparities in the risk for ICH recurrence. Data were analyzed from 593 participants from the Massachusetts General Hospital ICH study and 329 participants from the Ethnic/Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage study. ICH cases were classified as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-related, hypertensive arteriopathy (HTNA)-related, and mixed etiology using CSVD markers derived from MRIs. CSVD burden was quantified using validated global, CAA-specific, and HTNA-specific scores. CSVD subtype and severity were compared among White, Black, and Hispanic ICH survivors (655, 130, and 137 patients, respectively). The researchers observed greater global CSVD and HTNA burden on MRI among minority ICH survivors. Furthermore, higher HTNA burden was seen in minority survivors of HTNA-related and mixed-etiology ICH, resulting in elevated ICH recurrence risk.
