Spontaneous brain microbleeds: systematic review, subgroup analyses and standards for study design and reporting

Brain microbleeds (BMBs) are seen as small, homogeneous, round foci of low signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging gradient echo (GRE) T2 sequences. BMBs might only be a biomarker for microangiopathy, or alternatively BMBs might provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information, potentially with therapeutic implications for the treatment of stroke. Because of the rapid expansion in recent BMB research, we systematically reviewed and critically appraised the published literature according to QUADAS, STARD and Cochrane principles. Our selection criteria were met by 54 studies of 53 case series involving 9073 participants, 4432 of whom were people with cerebrovascular diseases. There were significant…

• FB
  Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
• MR
  Medical Research Council