Severe White Matter Hyperintensity Is Associated with Early Neurological Deterioration in Patients with Isolated Pontine Infarction

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Pontine infarction is a common type of brain stem infarction and early neurological deterioration (END). We evaluated the possibility of severe white matter hyperintensity (WMH) as a predictor of END in isolated pontine infarction. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We recruited 2 types of patients with isolated pontine infarction within 24 h from symptom onset. END was defined as an increase of ≥1 point on the motor National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) or ≥2 points on the total NIHSS score within 72 h from admission. We graded WMH using Fazekas scale, which is dichotomized into mild (grades 0-1) and moderate to severe (grades 2-3) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 82 patients with an isolated pontine infarction were selected. END was detected in 23 patients (28%). Severe periventricular and subcortical WMH (PVWMH and SCWMH, respectively) were more frequent in deteriorating patients (p = 0.001 and p = 0.019, respectively). A logistic regression analysis revealed that both severe PVWMH (OR 6.17; 95% CI 1.93-19.75, p = 0.002) and SCWMH (OR 3.19; 95% CI 1.10-9.23, p = 0.032) remained independent predictors of END. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Both severe PVWMH and SCWMH were useful to predict END in patients with isolated pontine infarction.