Relative risk values of age, acrolein, IL-6 and CRP as markers of periventricular hyperintensities: a cross-sectional study

Objective Brain white matter hyperintensities can be divided into periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) and deep-and-subcortical white matter hyperintensity (DSWMH); the former contributes more to cognitive dysfunction and infarction risk. We conducted the present investigation to define the relationship between PVH and DSWMH. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University hospital. Participants We prospectively enrolled 228 healthy Japanese volunteers with relative risk values (RRVs) >0.5. Primary outcome measures We investigated whether it is possible to use the RRV to predict PVH and DSWMH. Results Among 228 volunteers, 103 (45.1%) and 157 (68.8%) exhibited PVH and DSWMH, respectively. Age, body mass index and PVH were significant independent determinants of RRV. A significant OR for PVH was noted in the highest RRV tertile compared with the lowest, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. A significant OR for high predicted PVH risk was found for RRV levels as well. Conclusions Elevated RRV levels were significantly associated with increased predicted PVH, suggesting that measuring the plasma protein-conjugated acrolein, interleukin 6 and C reactive protein levels may be useful for identifying Japanese at high risk for PVH.