Prevalence of cerebral microbleeds and other cardiovascular risk factors in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background Cerebral microbleeds are small, round dark-signal foci in the T2 * -weighted magnetic resonance imaging. They are encountered in cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hypertensive vasculopathy. Their prevalence is common in ischemic stroke and cerebral hemorrhage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of CMBs and associated risk factors in the elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke. Results Cerebral microbleeds were significantly associated with the presence of hypertension (in the subgroup of recurrent stroke) and with hypercholesterolemia. There was a significant association between the number of the microbleeds and severity of white matter lesions as a higher number of microbleeds related to more severe white matter lesions. The microbleeds were more prevalent in the group of patients using antithrombotics. Conclusion Age, hypercholesterolemia, and the use of antithrombotics emerged as the most important associated risk factors for the presence of CMBs. On MRI, there was a significant association between the number of CMBs and severity of white matter lesions as a higher number of CMBs related to more severe white matter lesions.