Oxidized low-density lipoprotein concentration and CBF in patients with white matter hyperintensities

Abstract

Abstract Background Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), as a biomarker for atherosclerosis, is closely related to the occurrence and development of cerebrovascular diseases such as acute cerebral infarction caused by cerebral vascular stenosis. White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of presumed vascular origin, one of the most important neuroimaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD), is associated with inflammation and chronic cerebral ischemia. Methoeds : Our objective is to determine whether ox-LDL concentration was associated with the change of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with WMHs. Serum ox-LDL concentration was measured among 45 healthy controls (61.89 ± 6.55 years; 58% female) and 45 WMHs patients (64.96 ± 8.88 years; 44% female). CBF was automatically segmented using arterial spin labeling(ASL)for all the subjects. Results:The findings showed that the concentration of ox-LDL was higher in WMHs patients (mean ox-LDL = 184.10 ± 28.34µg/L) compared to the healthy controls (mean ox-LDL = 166.34 ± 29.72µg/L). CBF in the right precuneus (Pcu.R),an important region in the default mode network (DMN),in the WMHs patients were noticeably lower than that in the controls. Meanwhile, there was a significant correlation between ox-LDL levels and CBF in the Pcu.R (R2 = 0.165, P = 0.006) in the WMHs patients. Conclusions The results showed that the CBF of Pcu.R was decreased in patients with WMHs and was correlated to ox-LDL concentration. This study suggests a new treatment idea to combine antithrombotics and antioxidants for patients with white matter hyperintensitis.