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Association between blood-brain barrier permeability and changes in pulse wave velocity following a recent small subcortical infarct

Hypertension Research volume 47, pages 2495–2502 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is associated with increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. We sought to evaluate whether arterial stiffness might be associated with BBB permeability in patients with cSVD. We assessed BBB permeability using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in 29 patients that had suffered a recent small subcortical infarct (RSSI). BBB permeability in the whole brain (WB), gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) was assessed with the parameter Ktrans. We used ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to measure 24-h systolic blood pressure (24-h SBP), diastolic blood pressure (24-h DBP), and pulse wave velocity (24-h PWV) both after stroke and following a 2-year follow-up. The differences between both measurements were calculated as Δ24-h SBP, Δ24-h DBP and Δ24-h PWV. DCE-MRI was acquired at a median (IQR) of 24 (19–27) months after stroke. Median age was 66.7 (9.7) years, and 24 (83%) patients were men. Median (IQR) Δ24-h PWV was 0.3 (−0.1, 0.5) m/s. WB-Ktrans, GM-Ktrans, and WM-Ktrans were associated with Δ24-h PWV (Spearman’s, r [95% CI], WB 0.651 [0.363–0.839]; GM 0.657 [0.373–0.845], WM 0.530[0.197–0.777]) but not with Δ24-h SBP or Δ24-h DBP. These associations remained significant after adjustment with linear regression models, controlling for age, sex, body mass index, and Δ24-h SBP (b[95% CI], WB 0.725[0.384–1.127], GM 0.629 [0.316–1.369], WM 0.865 [0.455–0.892]) or Δ24-h DBP (b[95% CI], WM 0.707 [0.370–1.103], GM 0.643 [0.352–1.371], WM 0.772 [0.367–0.834]). Our results suggest that an increment on arterial stiffness in the months following a RSSI might increase BBB permeability.

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Acknowledgements

We thank CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support. We thank all the personnel at Alomar center for the technical support.

Funding

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias of the Spanish Ministry of Health (PI17/1188). MGC was funded by the Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya (grant SLT008/18/00032) by the call “Acció instrumental: Intensificació de professionals de la salut, modalitat de professionals sanitaris (infermeria I fisioteràpia)”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology Department, Complex Hospitalari Universitari Moisès Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Spain

    Luis Mena Romo, Juan José Mengual, Carla Avellaneda-Gómez, Sonia María García-Sánchez, Mercè Lleixa & Manuel Gómez-Choco

  2. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

    Sonia María García-Sánchez & Manuel Gómez-Choco

  3. Neurology Department, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Vic, Spain

    Maria Àngels Font

  4. Radiology Department, Complex Hospitalari Universitari Moisès Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Spain

    Caterina Montull & Laura Castrillo

  5. Radiology Department CDIC, Neuroradiology section, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona., Barcelona, Spain

    Nuria Bargalló

  6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Facility, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Carlos Laredo

  7. Comprehensive Stroke Center, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Sergio Amaro

  8. Neurociéncies Clíniques i Experimentals, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Sergio Amaro

  9. Internal Medicine Department, Complex Hospitalari Universitari Moisès Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Spain

    Pedro Armario

  10. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Pedro Armario

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  1. Luis Mena Romo
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Correspondence to Manuel Gómez-Choco.

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Mena Romo, L., Mengual, J.J., Avellaneda-Gómez, C. et al. Association between blood-brain barrier permeability and changes in pulse wave velocity following a recent small subcortical infarct. Hypertens Res 47, 2495–2502 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-024-01764-x

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