Spatial relation between microbleeds and amyloid deposits in amyloid angiopathy

Ann Neurol. 2010 Oct;68(4):545-8. doi: 10.1002/ana.22099.

Abstract

Advanced cerebrovascular β-amyloid deposition (cerebral amyloid angiopathy, CAA) is associated with cerebral microbleeds, but the precise relationship between CAA burden and microbleeds is undefined. We used T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and noninvasive amyloid imaging with Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) to analyze the spatial relationship between CAA and microbleeds. On coregistered positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI images, PiB retention was increased at microbleed sites compared to simulated control lesions (p = 0.002) and declined with increasing distance from the microbleed (p < 0.0001). These findings indicate that microbleeds occur preferentially in local regions of concentrated amyloid and support therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing vascular amyloid deposition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / complications*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / etiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Amyloid
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Thiazoles