Application of SWI in diagnosing cerebral microbleeds associated with diabetes

Objective:Patients with diabetes were examined with susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI)of the brain to find whether cerebral microbleeds(CMBs)occur frequently and to explore the correlation of the cerebral microbleeds with blood glucose level,acute stroke and leukoaraiosis degree.Methods:61 cases of diabetes were examined by SWI.21 cases had only diabetes,and 40 cases had diabetes with hypertension.All patients underwent MR scan including conventional brain MR sequences(T2 WI,T1 WI,DWI)and ESWAN sequences.The CMBs occurrence rate,the number and distribution were recorded,and the correlation of CMBs with other clinical materials and imaging findings was analyzed.Results:CMBs were detected in 15 cases(24.6%),all occurring in the group of diabetic patients with hypertension,it was not found in the simply diabetic group.Diabetes with acute stroke were 33 cases,among which 13 cases had CMBs(39.4%).15 cases of CMBs group and 46 cases of non-CMBs group were compared with t-test including glucose levels(maximum value,minimum value,the control value),age and course of the disease.It was found that the lowest fasting blood glucose value in the CMBs group was lower than that in the group without CMBs,and the difference was statistically significant(P0.05). The 61 patients were divided into 4 groups according to leukoaraiosis extent,it was found,by using Fisher′s Exact Test,that different degrees of leukoaraiosis had different incidences of CMBs,and the difference was statistically significant(P 0.05).Conclusion:SWI can clearly show CMBs in diabetes.CMBs are less prone to occur in patients with simply diabetes,CMBs incidence are significantly increased in patients with diabetes accompanied by hypertension.CMBs are found more often in diabetic patients with acute stroke or leukoaraiosis.