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MRI/CT: Evaluation of Brain Damage in Hypertension

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Assessment of Preclinical Organ Damage in Hypertension

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Abstract

Hypertension is the main modifiable risk factor for asymptomatic vascular brain injury (VBI), which includes white matter hyperintensity, cerebral microbleeds, recent small subcortical infarct, lacunes, dilated perivascular space, and brain atrophy. VBI is considered a sign of cerebral small vessel disease and an important mediator of the relationship between hypertension and brain aging. The presence of VBI is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and dementia. Hypertension control can decrease the progression of VBI. Screening for VBI may be considered among hypertensive patients at high risk of cognitive decline to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events and dementia.

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Acknowledgment

Development of this chapter was supported by grant NT 12102–4 awarded by the Internal Grant Agency of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Cardiovascular Prevention, Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine and Thomayer Hospital, Videnska 800, Prague, 140 59, Czech Republic

    Peter Wohlfahrt & Renata Cifkova

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  1. Peter Wohlfahrt
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  2. Renata Cifkova
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Correspondence to Renata Cifkova .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Enrico Agabiti Rosei

  2. IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy

    Giuseppe Mancia

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Wohlfahrt, P., Cifkova, R. (2015). MRI/CT: Evaluation of Brain Damage in Hypertension. In: Agabiti Rosei, E., Mancia, G. (eds) Assessment of Preclinical Organ Damage in Hypertension. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15603-3_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15603-3_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-15602-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15603-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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