Microbleeds on MRI are associated with microinfarcts on autopsy in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Authors:
  • SVSusanne J. van Veluw
    Susanne J. van Veluw
  • ACAndreas Charidimou
    Andreas Charidimou
  • DRDuangnapa Roongpiboonsopit
    Duangnapa Roongpiboonsopit
  • AVAnastasia Vashkevich
    Anastasia Vashkevich
  • AAAlison Ayres
    Alison Ayres
  • SMSergi Martinez-Ramirez
    Sergi Martinez-Ramirez
  • EGEdip M. Gurol
    Edip M. Gurol
  • GBGeert Jan Biessels
    Geert Jan Biessels
  • MFMatthew Frosch
    Matthew Frosch
  • SGSteven M. Greenberg
    Steven M. Greenberg
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Abstract
Objectives: To identify in vivo MRI markers that might correlate with cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) on autopsy in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Methods: We included patients with neuropathologic evidence of CAA on autopsy and available antemortem brain MRI. Clinical characteristics and in vivo MRI markers of CAA-related small vessel disease were recorded, including white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, cortical superficial siderosis, and centrum semiovale perivascular spaces. In addition, the presence of intracerebral hemorrhage on MRI was assessed. Evaluation of the presence and number of CMIs was performed in 9 standard histology sections. Results: Of 49 analyzed patients with CAA, CMIs were present in 36.7%. The presence of ≥1 CMIs on autopsy was associated with higher numbers of microbleeds on antemortem MRI (median 8 [interquartile range 2.5–33.0] vs 1 [interquartile range 0–3], p = 0.003) and with the presence of intracerebral hemorrhage (44.4% vs 16.1%, p = 0.03). No associations between CMIs and other in vivo MRI markers of CAA were found. In a multivariable model adjusted for severe CAA pathology, higher numbers of microbleeds were independent predictors of the presence of CMIs on pathology. Conclusions: CMIs are a common finding at autopsy in patients with CAA. The strong association between MRI-observed microbleeds and CMIs at autopsy may suggest a shared underlying pathophysiologic mechanism between these lesions.

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