RESUMO
Objective To investigate the relationship of lacunar infarction (LI) and white matter lesion with cognitive impairment in patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) Methods Fifty-three patients were diagnosed as SIVD according to the criteria of Erkinjuntti. The symptoms and signs were recorded by an interview and examination, and neuropsychological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. A semi-automated MRI quantitative method was used to measure the volume of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and the number of LI was counted. Correlation and the partial correlation analysis were performed to examine the relationship of general cognitive function with the volume of WMH and the number of LI. Results The pseudobulbar paralysis symptom and the upper motoneuron injury sign were the most common in these patients (18.9% and 37.7%). Correlation analysis showed that there was positive correlation between the volume of WMH and age (r = 0. 518, P < 0. 05), and there was negative correlcction between mini-metal state examination (MMSE) scures and the volume of WMH (r=-0.514, P<0. 05), After controlling confounding factors, only age was positively correlated with the volume of WMH (r=0. 400, P=0. 004). There were negative correlation between the number of LI, the volume of WMH and MMSE scores(r=-0. 456,-0. 514,-0. 385,-0. 382;all P<0. 05), and the years of education was positively correlated with MMSE scores (r= 0. 518, P< 0. 001). Conclusions Age may not be the main risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with SIVD. The volume of WMH and the number of LI are independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with SIVD. Patients with severer SIVD or more LI show poorer performance on cognitive function.