Authors
Wenli Gu, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, No. 1 Haiyuan 1st Rd, Futian district, Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, 518009, China AND Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Xiu Liu, Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107, Yanjiang West Rd, Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, 510120, China
Christopher Tze-Wei Tsang, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Si Yeung Yu, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Yan Chen, Department of Ultrasound, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1333 Xinhu Rd, Bao'an District, ShenZhen city, Guangdong province, 518000, China
Jiayi Huang, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Yuk Ki Yukie LAM, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Tim YAN, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Meizhen Wu, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Ran Guo, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Jingnan Zhang, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, No. 1 Haiyuan 1st Rd, Futian district, Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, 518009, China AND Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Ferit Böyük, Yedikule Chest Disease and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Health Science University, Istanbul, Turkey
Yap Hang Chan, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, China
Kai Hang Yiu, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, No. 1 Haiyuan 1st Rd, Futian district, Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, 518009, China AND Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam Rd 102. Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 999077, ChinaFollow
Abstract
Background: Emerging evidence suggests an association between vascular risk factors and changes in brain cortical structure and function. However, the relationship between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and brain cortical remodeling remains unclear, impeding further research on brain cortical dysfunction. Methods: Using summary statistics obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to explore potential causal effects of genetically predisposed pulmonary embolism (PE, N = 361,194), deep vein thrombosis (DVT, N = 462,933) and unspecified VTE (N = 218,792) on brain cortical structure (N = 51,665). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measures of brain cortex including surface area (SA) and thickness (TH) were collected both globally and across 34 regional gyri. All participants were of European descent. Data analysis was conducted between June 2023 and September 2023. Results: Globally, the cortical TH was consistently reduced in patients with PE, DVT and VTE (β PE: –0.344 mm, 95% CI: –0.654 mm to –0.033 mm, P = 0.030; β DVT: –0.150 mm, 95% CI: –0.298 mm to –0.002 mm, P = 0.047; β VTE: –0.003 mm, 95% CI: –0.006 mm to –0.0003 mm, P = 0.029). Regionally, DVT specifically caused a decrease in cortical TH in the paracentral gyrus (β : –0.438 mm, 95% CI: –0.647 mm to –0.229 mm, Bonferroni-corrected P = 4.02 × 10–5). This decrease persisted even after global adjustment (β : –0.281 mm, 95% CI: –0.434 mm to –0.126 mm, Bonferroni-corrected P = 3.49 × 10–4). No pleiotropy or heterogeneity was detected. Conclusion: Our study shows a causal effect of genetically proxied VTE on brain cortical thinning. This finding supports previously established epidemiological associations between VTE and brain dysfunctions and offers mechanistic insight.
Recommended Citation
Wenli Gu,
Xiu Liu,
Christopher Tze-Wei Tsang,
Si Yeung Yu,
Yan Chen,
Jiayi Huang,
Yuk Ki Yukie LAM,
Tim YAN,
Meizhen Wu,
Ran Guo,
Jingnan Zhang,
Ferit Böyük,
Yap Hang Chan,
Kai Hang Yiu,
Venous Thromboembolism Attenuates Brain Cortical Thickness: Evidence from Mendelian Randomization Study
Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology
2026;33(1):7-16 https://doi.org/10.55503/2790-6744.1578
