Association Between Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Calcification And Perivascular Space

Objective: The association between intracranial internal carotid artery(IICA)calcification and lacunes、white matter hyperintensity(WMH)as well as cerebral microbleeds(CMBs)has been well researched.However,as another neuroimaging marker of small vessel disease,cerebral perivascular space(PVS)has not been reported to correlate with intracranial internal carotid artery calcification yet.Methods: 189 patients with ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory presenting within 7 days of ictus from 2012 to 2015 were enrolled respectively.All patients are required to finish head CT,Magnetic Resonance Images(MRI),Susceptibility-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Images(SWI),Magnetic Resonance Angiography(MRA)or Computed Tomography Angiography(CTA).Clinical characteristics such as age,gender,hypertension,diabetes mellitus were recorded.IICA calcification and PVS were semi-quantitatively evaluated while the presence of lacunes,WMH and CMBs were recorded.Results: Of 189 patients,males accounted for 63.5%.Mean age was68.6±12.2 years old.104 patients with intracranial internal carotid artery calcification were divided into three groups :mild(28),moderate(54)and severe(22).Age,diabetes mellitus,lacunes and white matter hyperintensity showed significant difference between group with IICA calcification and that without calcification.Multivariable logistic regression showed that age,diabetes mellitus,lacunes were independent predictors of IICA calcification(p<0.05).Enlarged PVS was a protective factor for IICA calcification(p=0.004).Conclusion:Enlarged PVS may be a protective factor for intracranial internal carotid artery calcification.The higher scores of PVS indicated the less calcification degree.