High-Density Lipoprotein Is Associated with Leukoaraiosis Severity in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Many patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are found to accompany with leukoaraiosis (LA) in brain imaging. The risk factors of LA in patients with AIS were examined in this study. Patients with AIS were recruited and underwent head magnetic resonance imaging. According to Fazekas scores, patients were divided into LA group and non-LA group. We compared demographic and laboratory characteristics in two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high-density lipoprotein (HDL), age, stroke history, admission SBP, and homocysteine were independent risk factors for LA in patients with AIS (P < 0.05). Multinomial logistic regression analysis demonstrated that HDL was an independent risk factor for moderate LA (OR 4.151, 95% CI 1.898–9.078, P < 0.001) and severe LA (OR 3.151, 95% CI 1.350–7.358, P = 0.008). In order to further explore the correlation between HDL level and the severity of LA, HDL was categorized in quartiles and multinomial logistic regression analysis was presented. Regression analysis showed that HDL ≥ 1.34 mmol/L was correlated with moderate and severe LA after adjusting for corresponding confounding factors in different models. After 1-year follow-up, patients were divided into regular statin therapy group and irregular statin therapy group. There was no significant difference in HDL level between two groups; however, the proportion of patients with increased Fazekas scores in regular statin therapy group was significantly less than that in the irregular statin therapy group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HDL was an independent risk factor for LA and associated with the severity of LA in patients with AIS; regular statin therapy may be negatively related with the progress of LA. These results provide more evidences for controlling risk factors and severity of LA in patient with AIS.