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High neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is correlated with the occurrence, morbidity and mortality of cerebrovascular disease as a marker of systemic inflammation. However, its effect on cerebral white matter hyperintensity (WMH) is unclear. We investigated high NLR burden as a surrogate marker of WMH volume in a healthy population. Healthy subjects with voluntary health check-ups between January 2006 and December 2013, including brain MRI and laboratory examination, were collected. WMH volumes were rated quantitatively. A total of 2875 subjects were enrolled, and the mean volume of WMH was 2.63 ± 6.26 mL. In multivariate linear regression analysis, NLR [β = 0.191, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.104 to 0.279, P < 0.001] remained significant after adjusting for confounders. Age (β = 0.049, 95% CI = 0.045 to 0.054, P < 0.001), hypertension (β = 0.191, 95% CI = 0.101 to 0.281, P < 0.001), diabetes (β = 0.153, 95% CI = 0.045 to 0.261, P = 0.006), and extracranial atherosclerosis (β = 0.348, 95% CI = 0.007 to 0.688, P = 0.045) were also significant independently from NLR. Additionally, the high NLR group (NLR ≥ 1.52) was related to male sex, hypertension, diabetes, current smoking, extracranial atherosclerosis, silent brain infarct, and high WMH volumes. In conclusion, high NLR is associated with larger WMH volumes in a healthy population. Assessment of NLR may be helpful in detecting cerebral WMH burdens in high risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Maladjustment of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) results in cerebral vasculature and blood–brain barrier dysfunction, which is associated with small vessel disease (SVD). This study was to aim at evaluating correlations between matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms and the risk of SVD. Methods A total of 178 patients with SVD were enrolled into this study via Nanjing Stroke Registry Program (NSRP) from January 2010 to November 2011. SVD patients were further subtyped as isolated lacunar infarction (ILI, absent or with mild leukoaraiosis) and ischemic leukoaraiosis (ILA, with moderate or severe leukoaraiosis) according to the Fazekas scale. 100 age- and gender-matched individuals from outpatient medical examination were recruited as the control group. The genotypes of MMP-2-1306 T/C and MMP-9-1562 C/T were determined by the TaqMan method. Results Of 178 SVD patients, 86 and 92 patients were classified as ILI and ILA, respectively. Comparison analysis between SVD patients and controls revealed a significant correlation between SVD and hypertension, as well as a prevalence of hypertension in ILA. Further genotype analysis showed that the frequency of MMP-2-1306 CC genotype was higher in ILA patients than in controls ( P = 0.009, χ 2 test; P = 0.027, the multiple test with Bonferroni correction). Finally, logistic regression analysis with adjustment of age, sex and vascular risk factors showed that the MMP-2-1306 T/C polymorphism was an independent predictor for ILA (OR: 2.605; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.067–6.364; P = 0.036). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the MMP-2-1306 T/C polymorphism is a direct risk factor for ILA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]