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Journals / Turkish Journal of Internal Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 8

Silent Brain Lesions in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Hidden Burden

İsmail Baloğlu(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-8751-5490
Yasin Öztürk(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-2634-2677
Cemile Feyza Elbistan(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0001-6124-6053
Merve Oruç(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0009-0004-4973-8804
Mehmet Burak Erçin(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0002-2252-6113
Hakan Ozer(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0001-9174-0351
Fethi Yönet(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0002-8534-3170
Hasan Hüseyin Kozak(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0001-6904-8545
Ganime Dilek Emlik(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0002-7600-0651
Nedim Yılmaz Selçuk(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0003-0836-7993
Halil Zeki Tonbul(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0003-0761-3697
Kültigin Türkmen(NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ, MERAM TIP FAKÜLTESİ, MERAM TIP PR.)0000-0002-1667-7716
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-09-08
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings highlight the importance of cerebrovascular risk assessment in CKD patients, particularly in older individuals and those with advanced renal dysfunction.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: Silent brain lesions (SBL), including silent brain infarction (SBI) and subcortical white matter lesions (SWML), are increasingly recognized as important radiological markers of cerebral small vessel disease.
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Key Findings & Data:Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be at increased risk due to shared vascular and metabolic abnormalities.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings highlight the importance of cerebrovascular risk assessment in CKD patients, particularly in older individuals and those with advanced renal dysfunction.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2020 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Chronic kidney disease · Silent brain lesions · Hemodialysis

Abstract

Objective: Silent brain lesions (SBL), including silent brain infarction (SBI) and subcortical white matter lesions (SWML), are increasingly recognized as important radiological markers of cerebral small vessel disease. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be at increased risk due to shared vascular and metabolic abnormalities. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, radiological characteristics, and predictors of SBL in patients with CKD. Methods: This retrospective study included 276 patients with CKD who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between March 2020 and March 2021. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m², and patients undergoing hemodialysis were included. MRI findings were classified as SBI, SWML, overt stroke, or no lesion. Silent brain lesions were defined as the presence of SBI and/or SWML in patients without a clinical history of stroke or focal neurological deficits. Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed, and independent predictors were determined using binary logistic regression. Results: Pathological MRI findings were detected in 177 patients (64.1%). Among them, 131 patients (74.0%) had SBL (73 SWML and 58 SBI), while 46 (26.0%) had overt stroke. Patients with SBL were older and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension compared with those with overt stroke. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age (OR: 1.073, 95% CI: 1.051–1.096; p < 0.001) and higher serum creatinine levels (OR: 1.306, 95% CI: 1.096–1.557; p = 0.003) were identified as independent predictors of SBL. Among patients with SBL, those with SWML had a longer duration of hemodialysis compared to those with SBI. Conclusion: Silent brain lesions are highly prevalent in patients with CKD. Older age and impaired renal function are independent predictors of SBL. These findings highlight the importance of cerebrovascular risk assessment in CKD patients, particularly in older individuals and those with advanced renal dysfunction.

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Cite This Article

Baloğlu, İ., Öztürk, Y., Elbistan, C. F., Oruç, M., Erçin, M. B., Ozer, H., Yönet, F., Kozak, H. H., Emlik, G. D., Selçuk, N. Y., Tonbul, H. Z., Türkmen, K. (2026). Silent Brain Lesions in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Hidden Burden. Turkish Journal of Internal Medicine, Volume: 8. https://doi.org/10.46310/tjim.1820171

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