Association between serum total bilirubin level and leukoaraiosis in Korean adults

ObjectivesLeukoaraiosis is associated with cerebrovascular microangiopathy. Increasing evidence suggests that bilirubin is a potent cytoprotectant in the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine whether total bilirubin is related to leukoaraiosis.MethodsWe examined the relationship of total bilirubin with leukoaraiosis in 1005 Korean adults. The odds ratios for leukoaraiosis were calculated using multivariate logistic regression across serum total bilirubin tertiles.ResultsIn comparison with the subjects in the reference group (total bilirubin: 15–26 μmol/L), the odds ratio (95% CI) for leukoaraiosis in the 3rd tertile (total bilirubin ≤ 10 μmol/L) was 5.50 (1.24–24.40) in women after adjusting for confounding variables. However, this inverse association between serum total bilirubin and the prevalence of leukoaraiosis was not found in men after adjusting for the same co-variables.ConclusionTotal bilirubin level was inversely associated with leukoaraiosis regardless of classical cardiovascular risk factors in Korean women.

► Leukoaraiosis is associated with cerebrovascular microangiopathy.
► Bilirubin is a potent cytoprotectant in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
► We examined whether serum total bilirubin is related to leukoaraiosis.
► Total bilirubin level was inversely associated with leukoaraiosis in women.