Renal Dysfunction and White Matter Hyperintensity in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Renal dysfunction is a risk factor for vascular disease and has been associated with small vessel disease, which has been implicated in white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of kidney function white matter hyperintensity in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: The study included 80 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke. All patients underwent complete medical history and neurological examination. Brain CT or MRI, electrocardiography and carotid ultrasonography determined stroke etiology. NIHSS was used to assess stroke severity on admission. Kidney function was expressed as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease method. WMH on MRI was classified by the Fazekas score. Outcome was assessed by modified Rankin Scale after 3-months. Results: Patients with low eGFR had more history of hypertension, overweight (body mass index >25 kg/m²), small vessel disease, severe stroke, severe WMH and poor outcome. Hypertension, overweight and severe WMH were still associated with low eGFR in multivariate analysis. Univariate differences among groups of WMH revealed that severe WMH was associated with age, hypertension, overweight (body mass index >25 kg/m²), small vessel disease, low eGFR and poor outcome. In multivariate analysis age, hypertension, low eGFR, small vessel disease, and poor outcome remained associated with severe WMH. Conclusion: Our results suggested that ischemic stroke patients with low eGFR were associated with severe WMH and poor short-term outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]