lipohyalinosis

lipohyalinosis

(lī-pō-hī′ă-lĭn-ō″sĭs) Degenerative changes in small blood vessels, marked by the accumulation of a glassy- or waxy-appearing lipid within the vessel wall. This type of vascular degeneration occurs in hypertension and atherosclerosis, and predisposes patients to small infarcts, esp. in penetrating arteries of the brain.