PhD Defence Daniëlle Johanna Henrica Kerkhofs

Keywords: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Blood-brain barrier leakage, Inflammatory cells, Cognitive function
 

"Inflammatory cells and blood-brain barrier leakage in cerebral small vessel diseases"

This thesis focussed on cerebral small vessel (cSVD) disease, which is an umbrella term that covers a heterogeneous group of disorders that affect small arteries in the brain. CSVD is the main cause of vascular cognitive impairment and lacunar stroke. This thesis aimed to gain more insights into the pathophysiology of cSVD by investigating the role of local brain immune cells and leakage of brain blood vessels. In animal models of cSVD it was demonstrated that leaky blood vessels in the brain and activation of brain immune cells play an important role in cSVD pathophysiology. Studies in cSVD patients using advanced MRI techniques showed that increased leakage of brain small blood vessels is associated with over time brain tissue damage and cognitive decline. The results of this thesis suggest that there is a key role for local immune cell activation and blood vessel leakage in cSVD, which will give new opportunities for future therapeutic studies.

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