RELATIONSHIP OF LEUKOARAIOSIS TO VASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AND LESION TYPE IN STROKE PATIENTS

Nonspecific periventricular white matter lucencies on computed tomogra ms (leukoaraiosis) were found in 49 (55%) of 89 stroke patients. We co mpared the vascular risk factors and the types of stroke with and with out leukoaraiosis. Patients with leukoaraiosis were significantly olde r than those without it. The duration of hypertension was longer than those without leukoaraiosis. Mean diastolic blood pressure was associa ted with leukoaraiosis. No association was found with systolic blood p ressure, diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, he art failure, valvular disease and intermittent claudication. Patients with leukoaraiosis were significantly more likely to have lacunar infa rcts on computed tomograms but were less likely to have cortical infar cts, subcortical infarcts or cerebral hemorrhage.