Analysis of Correlation between the Number of Lenticulostriate Arteries and Hypertension Based on High-Resolution MR Angiography Findings

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypertension, one of the most important risk factors for strokes, is associated with altered arterial anatomy and function. In this study, we compared the visualization of the LSAs by 3T 3D-TOF-MRA and DSA and quantitatively examined the LSAs in patients with hypertension by using 3D-TOF-MRA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We first examined 126 patients with 3D-TOF-MRA and DSA and determined the number of LSAs. In addition, we examined 60 patients with hypertension and 60 nonhypertensive volunteers with 3D-TOF-MRA and determined the quantitative differences between the LSAs of these 2 groups. RESULTS: The mean number of LSA stems visualized by DSA and 3D-TOF-MRA on 1 side was 4.1 +/- 0.74 and 3.9 +/- 0.94, respectively (P = .0617). The average number of LSA stems on both sides was 4.7 +/- 0.8 in patients with hypertension and 6.3 +/- 1.9 in nonhypertensive volunteers (P < .0001). The mean number of LSAs in the young hypertensive group (<50 years of age) and its age-matched nonhypertensive group was 4.8 +/- 1.1 and 7.6 +/- 1.2, respectively (P < .0001) and that in the old hypertensive group (>= 50 years of age) and its age-matched nonhypertensive group was 4.6 +/- 0.9 and 5.0 +/- 1.0, respectively (P = .1088). CONCLUSIONS: LSA detection showed good correlation between 3T 3D-TOF-MRA and DSA. As determined by 3D-TOF-MRA, there was a significant decrease in the number of LSA stems in patients with hypertension compared with that in nonhypertensive volunteers; moreover, the difference in young subjects was more than that in the elderly.