Investig Magn Reson Imaging.  2018 Sep;22(3):150-157. 10.13104/imri.2018.22.3.150.

Associations between Morphological Characteristics of Intracranial Arteries and Atherosclerosis Risk Factors in Subjects with Less Than 50% Intracranial Arterial Stenosis

• Byun H
• Jang J
• Choi HS
• Jung SL
• Ahn KJ
• Kim BS

• KMID: 2421546
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13104/imri.2018.22.3.150

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess associations between morphological characteristics of intracranial arteries in time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA) and atherosclerotic risk factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From January 2014 to October 2015, a total of 129 patients (65 men and 64 women) without intracranial arterial stenosis > 50% were included in this study. All MRIs were performed using a 3T machine with 3D TOF-MRA sequences. We evaluated irregularity, tortuosity, and dilatation of intracranial arteries in maximal intensity projection (MIP) of TOF-MRA. Subjects' risk factors for atherosclerosis including history of hypertension and diabetes were collected by reviewing their medical records. Associations between morphological characteristics and each known atherosclerosis risk factor were examined using univariate regression analysis. Multivariate regression models were built to determine combined association between those risk factors and morphologic changes of intracranial arteries.
RESULTS
In multivariate analysis, hypertension (coefficient [95% CI]: 0.162 [0.036, 0.289], P = 0.012) and absence of diabetes (coefficient [95% CI]: −0.159 [−0.296, −0.023], P = 0.022) were associated with large diameter of intracranial arteries. Males (coefficient [95% CI]: 0.11 [−0.006, 0.23], P = 0.062) and higher age (coefficient [95% CI]: 0.003 [−0.001, 0.008], P = 0.138) had marginal association with increased diameter. Tortuosity was associated with old age (OR: 1.04 [1.02, 1.07], P < 0.001). Irregular contour of intracranial arteries was significantly associated with old age (OR: 1.05 [1.02, 1.09], P = 0.004), presence of diabetes (OR: 2.88 [1.36, 6.15], P = 0.0058), and previous ischemic stroke (OR: 3.91 [1.41, 11.16], P = 0.0092).
CONCLUSION
Morphological characteristics (irregularity, tortuosity, dilatation) of intracranial arteries seen in TOF-MRA might be associated with atherosclerotic risk factors in subjects with no or mild stenosis.

Keyword

Time-of-flight MR angiography; Morphologic characteristics; Atherosclerosis; Hypertension

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Arteries*
Atherosclerosis*
Constriction, Pathologic*
Dilatation
Humans
Hypertension
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Medical Records
Multivariate Analysis
Risk Factors*
Stroke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Patient selection flow chart. After systematic review of radiologic database, we included 129 subjects in this study.

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  Fig. 2. A scheme showing seven segments of assessed intracranial arteries. Blue = basilar arteries; Green = distal internal carotid arteries; Orange = V4 segments of vertebral arteries; Yellow = M1 segments of middle cerebral arteries

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  Fig. 3. Three schemes used to assess morphological features of intracranial arteries. Each panel explains criteria for irregularity (a), tortuosity (b), and diameter (c).

Reference

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