Lipohyalinosis (also known as fibrinoid necrosis) is a disease affecting the small cerebral arteries associated with lacunar infarction and deep white matter changes related to small vessel chronic ischemia.
Pathology
The histopathological landmarks of lipohyalinosis are irregular fibrosis and hyaline of small cerebral arteries (30-400 μm) associated with leakage of plasma proteins. It is often caused by chronic hypertension. Fibrinoid necrosis and/or endothelial dysfunction causing local inflammation (swelling) lead to vascular narrowing.
It is different from small vessel arteriosclerosis which affects slightly larger cerebral and leptomeningeal arteries (200–800 μm) and is characterized by concentric hyaline thickening with resultant concentric vascular narrowing.