Tag: Brain

Small vessel disease, often referred to in the context of its impact on the brain or heart, is known by several other names, including:

1. Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD): When it affects the brain, leading to conditions such as stroke and dementia.
2. Small Vessel Ischemic Disease: This term emphasizes the ischemic (restricted blood flow) aspect of the disease in the brain.
3. Microvascular Disease: A broader term that refers to diseases affecting small blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the heart and brain.
4. Microangiopathy: This is a more technical term that specifically denotes disease in the small blood vessels.
5. Lacunar Disease: Particularly in the context of the brain, it refers to small vessel disease that leads to lacunar infarcts, which are small areas of stroke due to blockage of small blood vessels.
6. Microvascular Angina: When it affects the heart, particularly in the context of chest pain or angina that is due to small vessel dysfunction rather than blockages in the larger coronary arteries.
7. Coronary Microvascular Disease (CMD): This is specifically related to the heart, where small vessels in the heart are affected.

These terms can sometimes be used interchangeably, but they may also highlight different aspects or locations of the disease. For instance, cerebral small vessel disease focuses on the brain, whereas coronary microvascular disease is specific to the heart.