RELATIONSHIP OF LEUKOARAIOSIS TO VASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AND LESION TYPE IN STROKE PATIENTS

Nonspecific periventricular white matter lucencies on computed tomograms (leukoaraiosis) were found in 49 (55%) of 89 stroke patients. We compared the vascular risk factors and the types of stroke with and without leukoaraiosis. Patients with leukoaraiosis were significantly older than those without it. The duration of hypertension was longer than those without leukoaraiosis. Mean diastolic blood pressure was associated with leukoaraiosis. No association was found with systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, valvular disease and intermittent claudication. Patients with leukoaraiosis were significantly more likely to have lacunar infarcts on computed tomograms but were less likely to have cortical infarcts, subcortical infarcts or cerebral hemorrhage