The relationship between LDL-c and platelet count with lacunar stroke findings on brain MRI

Objectives. Lacunar stroke or cerebral small vessel disease accounts for 15-30% of all ischemic stroke. The golden standard to identify lacunar stroke is by using MR imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequence. In prior studies LDL-c and platelet count were described as contributing factors in lacunar stroke event. The aim of this study is to examine whether LDL-c and platelet value may have a contribution in lacunar stroke finding. Methods. In cross-sectional study, we consecutively collected patients older than 18 years old who had undergone brain MRI and had their LDL-c and platelet count laboratory results and we also took their history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension to evaluate risk factor association. Outcomes. We collected 93 patients who underwent brain MRI obtained lacunar stroke in 20 patients (21.5%) and non-lacunar stroke findings in 78.5%. We found no significant association between LDL-c and platelets with lacunar stroke findings in brain MRI. However we found that lacunar stroke findings had significant association with hypertension with P < 0.05. Conclusion. LDL-c and platelets were not statistically significant in lacunar stroke findings in brain MRI, while hypertension was the risk factor associated with lacunar stroke event.