Several studies have been done to prove the correlation between an increase in pulsatility of the intracranial artery and microangiopathic white matter hyperintensities, also known as WMH. However, those studies lack data regarding factors like age or high blood pressure. Thus, a new study was performed on a group of around 500 elders who were above 60 years old to investigate an interrelation between the rise in pulsatility of the middle cerebral artery and both the progression and severity of WMH.
Over a five years duration, the transcranial Doppler sonography indexed the pulsatility of the middle artery in the cerebrum along with the progression and severity of WMH, and then those were analyzed. Fazekas scale was used to grade the intensity of WMH, while semi automated volumetric assessment recorded its quantity. As a result, elders with intense WMH showed an increase in pulsatility (P<0.001), while WMH progression had no effect on the latter ( P=0.099). On the other hand, arterial high blood pressure stayed in synchronization with both WMH intensity (P=0.04) and its progression (P=0.008).
In conclusion, the middle cerebral artery’s indexed pulsatility is not an independent factor of intensity and progression of WMH in an individual as there are hypertension and age, which would affect them.
Ref: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.030478
