White matter lesions (WML): risk factors and causes
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
White matter lesions (WML): risk factors and causes. Age: WMLs are present in 70% of people > 65 years, Hypertension. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Risk factors
- Age: WMLs are present in 70% of people > 65 years
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Diabetes mellitus
- History of vascular disease
Neuro-inflammatory causes
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Genetic causes
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Vascular causes
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Leukodystrophies
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Metabolic causes
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Infective causes
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Other risk factors
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Acronym
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References
- Grossman RI, Yousem DM. The Requisites: Neuroradiology. 2nd edition. Mosby Philadelphia 2003 p332.
- Schiffmann R, van der Knaap MS. Invited article: an MRI-based approach to the diagnosis of white matter diseases. Neurology 2009; 72:750-759.
- Debette S, Markus HS. The clinical importance of white matter hyperintensities on brain magnetic resonance imaging: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2010; 341:c3666.
- Rost NS, Rahman RM, Biffi A, et al. White matter hyperintensity volume is increased in small vessel stroke subtypes. Neurology 2010; 75:1670-1677.
- Traylor M, Tozer DJ, Croall ID, et al; International Stroke Genetics Consortium. Genetic variation in PLEKHG1 is associated with white matter hyperintensities (n = 11,226). Neurology 2019; 92:e749-e757.
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