Evaluation of the Relationship between Silent Cerebral Lesions and Triglyceride/HDL-Cholesterol in Patients with First Stroke Attack

Aim: Triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is defined as the serum atherogenicity index. High TG/HDL-C ratio is related with vascular diseases, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The TG/HDL-C ratio in cerebrovascular diseases, especially in silent cerebral lesions hasn’t been well studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of silent cerebral ischemia (SCI) and leukoaraiosis (LA), and its relationship with TG/HDL-C ratio in patients admitted with the first ischemic stroke attack. Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 200 patients who admitted to Bulent Ecevit University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology with the diagnosis of acute first ischemic stroke. Silent cerebral lesions were defined as LA and SCI with magnetic resonance imaging. TG/HDL-C ratio was calculated by dividing TG levels by HDL-C levels. Results: Silent cerebral lesions were detected 124 (83.2%) of 149 patients. LA severity was evaluated according to Fazekas score, 22 (14.8%) of patients were grade 0, 49 (32.9%) of them were grade 1, and 78 (52.3%) of them were advanced periventricular white matter hyperintensity (adv-PWMH) group. TG/HDL-C ratio in SCI group was higher than the group without SCI, but it wasn’t statistically significant (p=0.091). A significant increase was observed in the TG/HDL-C ratio, as LA severity increased. TG/HDL-C ratio was significantly higher in adv-PWMH group (p=0.050). Conclusion: High serum atherogenicity index is associated with atherosclerosis and vascular endothelial dysfunction. With this simple, inexpensive and effective test method, high-risk group of LA and SCI could be identified.