Effects of cerebral small vessel disease on neurological function and recurrence of stroke in cerebral infarction patients caused by large artery atherosclerosis

The term, cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), describes a syndrome of neuroimaging, pathological, and associated clinical features caused by small intracranial vascular lesions. Recent studies have found different MRI features of CSVD in patients with ischemic strokes caused by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), significantly influencing the stroke outcomes. This paper reviews the effects of CSVD on clinical outcomes of cerebral infarction patients caused by LAA and their mechanisms. Key words: Cerebral small vessel disease; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neurological function; Cerebral infarction; Large artery atherosclerosis