ABSTRACT
Cerebrovascular disease is a common disease that seriously endangers the health of Chinese people. White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are the most common in elderly patients. Intravenous thrombolysis is currently the most effective drug treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is the most common serious complication after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The destruction of blood-brain barrier in patients of WMHs can increase the risk of HT after intravenous thrombolysis. Matrix metalloproteinases and S100B jointly participate in the destruction process of blood-brain barrier in WMHs and HT after intravenous thrombolysis. At present, the pathogenesis of WHM and HT is not completely clear, and whether mild and moderate WMHs will aggravate HT is still controversial. Nevertheless, WMHs are still the independent risk factor for HT.