Cigarette smoking is correlated with the periventricular hyperintensity grade on brain magnetic resonance imaging

Background and Purpose A few studies have observed a significant inverse correlation between cigarette smoking or lipid abnormalities and periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs) on T-2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain, which is surprising because smoking and hyperlipidemia are considered risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. We investigated the relation between smoking and lipid abnormalities and PVHs on T-2-weighted MRIs. Methods MRI scans were performed in 253 patients over the age of 40 years, and PVHs were assessed retrospectively by use of a five-point scale. Patients who were receiving medical treatment for hyperlipidemia were excluded. Serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides were determined in the fasting state by an automated enzymatic procedure. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was calculated by use of Friedewald's equation. Age, sex, hypertensive status, antihypertensive treatment, presence or absence of diabetes mellitus: and history of stroke were included in the analysis. Results Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age: hypertension, smoking, and antihypertensive treatment were significantly and independently correlated with the PVH score. The standard partial regression coefficients were .39 (P<.0001) for age, .33 (P<.0001) for hypertension, .16 (P=.0062) for smoking, and -.18 (P=.0124) for antihypertensive treatment. Hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol level >220 mg/dL), HDL hypocholesterolemia (HDL cholesterol level <40 mg/dL), LDL hypercholesterolemia (LDL cholesterol level >130 mg/dL), hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride level >150 mg/dL), sex, diabetes mellitus, and a history of stroke were not correlated with the PVH score. Conclusions Cigarette smoking was a weak but significant positive predictor of the PVH score and was independent of age, hypertension, and antihypertensive treatment. Lipid abnormalities were not related to the PVH score.