Correlation between lipid-lowering therapy and cerebral microbleeds

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hong, Miao-Ping^{a; 1} | Chen, Wei-Fen^{b; 1} | Wu, Jie-Hao^c | Kang, Tai-Shan^d | He, Shun-Po^{a; e; *} | Yang, Qing-Wei^{a; e; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China | [b] Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Nanping City, Nanping, China | [c] Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Putian University, Putian, China | [d] Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China | [e] Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Shun-Po He, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No. 203 of Hubin South Road, Siming District, Xiamen 361004, China. Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, No. 1 North Xuefu Road, Minhou County, Fuzhou 350108, China. Tel.: +86 592 2292113; Fax: +86 592 2590120; E-mail: [email protected] and Qing-Wei Yang, Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No. 203 of Hubin South Road, Siming District, Xiamen 361004, China. Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, No. 1 North Xuefu Road, Minhou County, Fuzhou 350108, China. Tel.: +86 592 2292113; Fax: +86 592 2590120; E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this study.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To investigate if there is a correlation between lipid-lowering treatment with statins and the occurrence, number, and location of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) among patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD), and also to compare treatment with atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in terms of the occurrence of CMBs and their differences. METHODS:In this retrospective study, we included patients who were diagnosed with ICVD and underwent susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in a grade A tertiary hospital from October 1, 2014 to October 1, 2022. We collected information on previous statin use, past medical history, clinical test indicators, and imaging data. RESULTS:We found that out of 522 patients, 310 patients (59.4%) had no CMB and 212 patients (40.6%) had CMBs. There was no statistically significant correlation between prior statin use, the occurrence, and number of CMBs in patients diagnosed with ICVD (P < 0.05). As for the location of CMB, there was a statistically significant correlation between prior statin use and lobar CMBs (P < 0.048). However, there was no statistically significant correlation between the use of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin and the occurrence of CMBs (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION:There was no independent correlation between previous statin use, and the occurrence, and number of CMBs in patients with ICVD. As for CMBs in different locations, there was a correlation between previous use of statin and lobar CMBs. There was no significant difference between atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in the occurrence of CMBs in patients with ICVD.

Keywords: Cerebral small vessel diseases, CMBs, statin

DOI: 10.3233/CH-231833

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 59-71, 2023