Deep medullary veins are associated with widespread brain structural abnormalities

Our aim is to investigate the association of cerebral deep medullary veins (DMVs) with white matter microstructural integrity and regional brain atrophy in MRI. In a community-based cohort of 979 participants (mean age 55.4 years), DMVs were identified on susceptibility-weighted imaging. Brain structural measurements including gray matter and hippocampus volumes, as well as diffusion tensor metrics, were evaluated. The mean (SD)number of DMVs was 19.0 (1.7). A fewer number of DMVs was related to lower fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity in multiple voxels on the white matter skeleton (threshold-free cluster enhancement corrected p < 0.05, adjusted for age and sex). Also, fewer DMVs were significantly related to a lower gray matter fraction and a hippocampal fraction (0.10 and 0.11 per DMV, respectively; SE, 0.03 for both; p < 0.001 for both). A significant correlation between DMVs’ reduction and cortical atrophy was observed in the bilateral occipital lobes, temporal lobes, hippocampus, and frontal lobes (p < 0.001, adjusted for age, sex, and total intracranial volume). Our results provided evidence that cerebral small venules disease play a role in brain parenchymal lesions and neurodegenerative processes.

MRI-visible perivascular spaces in basal ganglia but not centrum semiovale or hippocampus were related to deep medullary veins changes

Our purpose is to assess the role of deep medullary veins (DMVs) in pathogenesis of MRI-visible perivascular spaces (PVS) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). Consecutive patients recruited in the CIRCLE study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03542734) were included. Susceptibility Weighted Imaging-Phase images were used to evaluate DMVs based on a brain region-based visual score. T2 weighted images were used to evaluate PVS based on the five-point score, and PVS in basal ganglia (BG-PVS), centrum semiovale (CSO-PVS) and hippocampus (H-PVS) were evaluated separately. 270 patients were included. The severity of BG-PVS, CSO-PVS and H-PVS was positively related to the increment of age (all p < 0.05). The severity of BG-PVS and H-PVS was positively related to DMVs score (both p < 0.05). Patients with more severe BG-PVS had higher Fazekas scores in both periventricle and deep white matter (both p < 0.001) and higher frequency of hypertension ( p = 0.008). Patients with more severe H-PVS had higher frequency of diabetes ( p < 0.001). Besides, high DMVs score was an independent risk factor for more severe BG-PVS ( β = 0.204, p = 0.001). Our results suggested that DMVs disruption might be involved in the pathogenesis of BG-PVS.

Clinical Implications of the “Brush Sign” in Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging for Moyamoya Disease

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Infarction is one of the most common postoperative complications after surgical revascularization for moyamoya disease (MMD). Increased conspicuity of deep medullary veins (DMVs) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), known as “brush sign,” could predict the severity of MMD. This study aimed to reveal the features of the “brush sign” in preoperative SWI and to verify its relationship to postoperative infarction. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Consecutive patients with MMD who had undergone cerebral revascularization surgery were included. Routine preoperative SWI was performed. The “brush sign” was defined according to the number of the conspicuous DMVs &#x3e; 5 detected on SWI. Postoperative infarctions were defined as the high-intensity signal on postoperative DWI images, with or without neurologic deficits. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) was applied to evaluate the prognosis of patients. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In the enrolled 100 hemispheres, 35 were presented with the “brush sign.” Patients with ischemic onset manifestation and previous infarction history tended to present with the “brush sign.” Multivariate analysis showed that the “brush sign” (OR 13.669; 95% CI, 1.747–106.967, <i>p</i> = 0.013) and decreased rCBF (OR 6.050; 95% CI, 1.052–34.799, <i>p</i> = 0.044) were independent risk factors of postoperative infarction. Besides, the “brush sign” showed a significant correlation with a higher mRS score at discharge (<i>p</i> = 0.047). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The findings strongly suggest that the presence of the “brush sign” preoperatively can be a predictor of infarction after surgical revascularization for ischemic MMD. It may contribute to an improved surgical result through focused perioperative management based on appropriate surgical risk stratification.

Brain deep medullary veins on 3-T MRI in a population-based cohort

Our aim is to investigate whether vascular risk factors are associated with cerebral deep medullary veins (DMVs) and whether DMVs are associated with MRI markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) or risk of stroke. In a community-based cohort of 1056 participants (mean age 55.7 years), DMVs were identified on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and counted in periventricular regions. Neuroimaging markers including lacunes, whiter matter hyperintensity (WMH), microbleeds, enlarged perivascular space, and brain atrophy were evaluated. The number of DMVs decreased with age (p = 0.007). After adjusting for age and sex, the number of DMVs was not associated with traditional vascular risk factors. Fewer DMVs was associated with increase of WMH and lacunes, but the association vanished after adjustment for vascular risk factors. However, fewer DMVs were independently associated with brain atrophy (p < 0.001). DMVs were not associated with three-year risk of stroke. Our results suggest that DMV is significantly different from other MRI markers of CSVD regarding risk factors, association with other CSVD markers, and risk of stroke. Nonetheless, the significant association between DMV and brain atrophy suggested the potential role of venules in age-related neurodegenerative process, which deserves further investigation.

Role of deep medullary veins in pathogenesis of lacunes: Longitudinal observations from the CIRCLE study

Our purpose is to assess the role of deep medullary veins in pathogenesis of lacunes in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). We included patients with baseline and 2.5-year follow-up MRI in CIRCLE study. Susceptibility Weighted Imaging-Phase images were used to evaluate deep medullary veins based on a brain region-based visual score, and T2-Fluid-Attenuated-Inversion-Recovery images were used to evaluate lacunes. Cerebral blood flow and microstructural parameters in white matter hyperintensities and normal appearing white matter were also analyzed. A total of 203 cSVD patients were analyzed and 101 (49.8%) patients had baseline lacunes. Among them, 64 patients had follow-up MRI, including 16 (25.0%) with new lacunes. The patients’ deep medullary veins median score was 9 (7–12). At baseline, high deep medullary veins score was independently associated with the presence of lacunes after adjusting for age, diabetes mellitus, white matter hyperintensities volume and cerebral blood flow or white matter microstructural parameters (all p < 0.001). Longitudinally, high deep medullary veins score was independently associated with new lacunes after adjusting for gender ( p < 0.001). The association was also independent of white matter hyperintensities volumes, cerebral blood flow or white matter microstructural parameters (all p < 0.05). Our results suggest that deep medullary veins disruption might be involved in pathogenesis of lacunes.