Asymptomatic cerebral infarction and microbleeds one year after acute cerebral infarction

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Stroke p. 11238
• Main Authors: Terasawa, Yuka, Nakamichi, Atsuhito, Inoue, Tomoyuki, Sato, Tatsuya, Kubo, Satoshi, Sato, Kota, Himeno, Takahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Stroke Society 2024
• Subjects: acute cerebral infarction; asymptomatic cerebral infarction; cerebral microbleeds
• ISSN: 0912-0726; 1883-1923
• DOI: 10.3995/jstroke.11238

Background and Purpose: Asymptomatic cerebral infarction (ACI) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are widely known as risk factors for the development of cerebral infarction. In this study, we investigated asymptomatic lesions 1 year after cerebral infarction (CI). Methods: We examined brain MRI findings 1 year after stroke in patients with acute CI within 7 days of onset. Results: Of the total 1376 patients who had an outpatient appointment at 1 year, excluding 75 patients with recurrence within 1 year, 1055 (82%) of 1301 patients were included. There was an increase in ACI in 53 cases (5.1%), an increase in CMBs in 129 cases (12.4%), an increase in both in 19 cases (1.8%), and no increase in 838 cases (80.7%). In multivariate analysis, initial CMBs (OR: 4.49, 95%CI; 3.15–6.38, p<0.001), age (OR: 1.03, 95%CI; 1.01–1.04, p=0.010), silent old infarction (OR: 1.90, 95%CI; 1.27–2.85, p=0.002)and stroke history(OR: 1.94, 95%CI; 1.24–3.06, p=0.004) were the independent risk factors for increasing asymptomatic cerebral lesions. Conclusion: Overall, asymptomatic lesions increased 1 year after CI in 19.3% of patients, and CMBs were more common. Further investigation is needed to determine whether they are associated with symptomatic recurrence.