Patients with SIVD demonstrate abnormal blood-brain barrier permeability in white matter, suggesting a role in vascular cognitive impairment.
There was abnormal permeability in white matter in patients with SIVD as shown by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and albumin index. Future studies will be needed to determine the relationship of blood-brain barrier damage and development of white matter hyperintensities.
Taheri et al. (2011) studied this question.