Abstract:
Introduction : To assess emerging cardiovascular risk factors especially arterial stiffness and endothelial function as important predictors in stroke .Objective: To determine the difference of arterial stiffness and endothelial function in patients with subcortical white matter atrophy and normal subjects, and to elucidate the related factors.Methods: This study evaluated a total of 20 gender- and age- matched between acute ischemic stroke patients with subcortical white matter atrophy, admitted to the Stroke Unit at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between December 2012 and September 2013, and normal subjects (controls). Carotid Femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) which represents arterial stiffness was measure using Sphymocor apparatus and Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI) which represent endothelial function was measured using Endopat 2000. Result: CF-PWV was different between the two groups (10.53±2.35 vs 7.73±1.43 m/s in stroke patients and controls, respectively, p < 0.001). In contrast, no statistically significant different seen in RHI. Preliminary multiple linear regression showed that acute ischemic stroke with subcortical white matter atrophy and Body Mass Index (BMI) may be predictors of arterial stiffness and logistic regression showed that CF-PWV may be a predictor of acute ischemic stroke with subcortical white matter atrophy in this cross-sectional study. Conclusion: Arterial stiffness may increase in ischemic stroke patients with subcortical white matter atrophy and BMI may be independent predictor of CF-PWV