PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Robin Brown
AU  - Audrey Low
AU  - Hugh S Markus
TI  - Rate of, and risk factors for, white matter hyperintensity growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implications for clinical trial design
AID  - 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326569
DP  - 2021 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
PG  - 1271--1277
VI  - 92
IP  - 12
4099  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/92/12/1271.short
4100  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/92/12/1271.full
SO  - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry2021 Dec 01; 92
AB  - Background White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are a highly prevalent MRI marker of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), which predict stroke and dementia risk, and are being increasingly used as a surrogate marker in clinical trials. However, the influence of study population selection on WMH progression rate has not been studied and the effect of individual patient factors for WMH growth are not fully understood.Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on progression of WMHs in longitudinal studies to determine rates of WMH growth, and how these varied according to population characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors. We used these data to calculate necessary sample sizes for clinical trials using WMH as an endpoint.Results WMH growth rate was highest in SVD (2.50cc/year), intermediate in unselected stroke patients (1.29cc/year) and lower in patients with non-stroke cardiovascular disease, and with cognitive impairment. Age was significantly associated with progression (correlation coefficient 0.15cc/year, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.28cc/year) as was baseline lesion volume (0.6cc/year, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.06 cc/year). Both hypertension (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.46) and current smoking (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.16) were associated with WMH growth. Sample sizes for a clinical trial varied greatly with patient population selection and baseline lesion volume; estimates are provided.Conclusions WMH progression varies markedly according to the characteristics of the population being studied and this will have a major impact on sample sizes required in a clinical trial. Our sample size estimates provide data for planning clinical trials using WMH as an outcome measure.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020191781.Data are available on reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are available from published articles referenced in the text. Extracted data used for analysis are uploaded as online supplemental information or available at reasonable request.