Disclosed is the use of 5α-androst-3β,5,6β-triol and analogs and deuterated compounds thereof or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in the preparation of drugs for treating the cerebral small vessel disease of patients. The cerebral small vessel disease is preferably brain microhemorrhages. The brain microhemorrhages refer to spontaneous brain microhemorrhages, drug-related brain microhemorrhages or traumatic brain microhemorrhages. The present invention confirms that these compounds significantly enhance the clearance of extravascular hemoglobin and can thus be used for treating cerebral small vessel disease.
