Association between systemic inflammatory response index and cerebral small vessel disease

Objective

This study aimed to explore the relationship between the Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI) and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD), focusing on its key imaging markers.

Methods

We enrolled 344 patients admitted to the neurology department between January 2022 and September 2024, comprising 223 patients diagnosed with CSVD and 121 without CSVD. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the impact of SIRI on CSVD risk. Further, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between SIRI and CSVD imaging markers, including White Matter Hyperintensity (WMH), lacunes, Perivascular Space (PVS), and Recent Small Subcortical Infarct (RSSI).

Results

Significant differences were observed between the CSVD and non-CSVD groups in terms of age, sex, history of hypertension, diabetes, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, homocysteine levels, and SIRI values. Multivariate analysis confirmed that elevated SIRI is independently associated with an increased risk of CSVD. Additionally, higher SIRI values were linked with more severe CSVD imaging features, including moderate-to-severe WMH, the presence of lacunes, and RSSI.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that elevated SIRI is independently associated with both the occurrence of CSVD and the severity of key imaging markers such as WMH, lacunes, and RSSI. This suggests that SIRI could serve as a useful inflammatory marker for assessing CSVD risk and progression.