1
|
Asano K, Hosoyama S, Takeuchi Y. [Two cases of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in which white matter lesions appearing after brain biopsy got improvement without immunotherapy]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2024; 64:23-27. [PMID: 38072444 DOI: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-001887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The first case was a 75-year-old woman with intermittent sensory impairment of the left hand. FLAIR of the head MRI revealed hyperintensity along the pia mater in the right parieto-temporal lobe with few microbleeds. Our second case was a 78-year-old man who presented with motor aphasia. His MRI showed swollen cortex on FLAIR and cortical hemosiderosis on T2* weighted imaging of the right cerebral hemisphere. Pathological findings indicated the first case as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-related inflammation and the second case as CAA. Additionally, after brain biopsy, widespread white matter lesions were detected in the area surrounding the biopsy site. However, both patients showed improvement without immunotherapy. Therefore, it is important to consider whether immunotherapy is required when white matter lesions appear in the area surrounding the biopsy site.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Asano
- Department of Neurology, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daini Hospital
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital
| | | | - Yuko Takeuchi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital
- Department of Neurology, Masuko Memorial Hospital
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
de Souza A, Tasker K. Inflammatory Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: A Broad Clinical Spectrum. J Clin Neurol 2023; 19:230-241. [PMID: 37151140 PMCID: PMC10169922 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2022.0493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy, which in some cases is associated with subacute encephalopathy, seizures, headaches, or strokes due to vascular inflammation directed against vascular amyloid accumulation. The pathological subtypes of inflammatory CAA include CAA-related inflammation (CAAri) with mostly perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, or amyloid-beta (Aβ)-related angiitis (ABRA) with transmural granulomatous inflammation. CAAri and ABRA probably represent part of the spectrum of CNS vasculopathies, intermediate between CAA and primary CNS vasculitis, and they are closely related to Aβ-related imaging abnormalities and other manifestations of an inflammatory response directed against Aβ in the leptomeninges and cerebral parenchyma. As treatment strategies in Alzheimer's disease shift toward potentially effective antiamyloid immunotherapy, the incidence rate of inflammatory CAA (which is probably an underrecognized condition) is likely to increase. Its clinical features are varied and include subacute encephalopathy, behavioral symptoms, headaches, seizures, and focal neurological deficits, which necessitate a high degree of suspicion for this disorder that often responds to treatment. The recent definition of the typical clinical and radiological syndrome has increased its recognition and may eliminate the need for invasive histological sampling in at least some affected patients. Here we review the pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, and approach to diagnosis, and discuss illustrative cases that highlight the wide range of clinical presentations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron de Souza
- Department of Medicine, Launceston General Hospital, Launceston, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Launceston Clinical School, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
| | - Kate Tasker
- Department of Medicine, Launceston General Hospital, Launceston, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Reisz Z, Troakes C, Sztriha LK, Bodi I. Fatal thrombolysis-related intracerebral haemorrhage associated with amyloid-β-related angiitis in a middle-aged patient - case report and literature review. BMC Neurol 2022; 22:500. [PMID: 36564732 PMCID: PMC9783436 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-022-03029-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid-β-related angiitis (ABRA) is a rare complication of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, characterized by amyloid-β deposition in the leptomeningeal and cortical vessels with associated angiodestructive granulomatous inflammation. The clinical presentation is variable, including subacute cognitive decline, behavioural changes, headaches, seizures and focal neurological deficits, which may mimic other conditions. Here, we present a case with fatal thrombolysis-related haemorrhage associated with ABRA in a middle-aged patient. CASE PRESENTATION A 55-year-old man was admitted to hospital with sudden onset left-sided cheek, arm and hand sensory loss, blurred vision, and worsening headache, with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 3. An acute CT head scan showed no contraindications, and therefore the decision was made to give intravenous thrombolysis. Post-thrombolysis, he showed rapid deterioration with visual disturbances, headache and confusion, and a repeat CT head scan confirmed several areas of intracerebral haemorrhage. No benefit from surgical intervention was expected, and the patient died four days after the first presentation. Neuropathological examination found acute ischemic infarcts of three to five days duration in the basal ganglia, insular cortex and occipital lobe, correlating with the initial clinical symptoms. There were also extensive recent intracerebral haemorrhages most likely secondary to thrombolysis. Furthermore, the histological examination revealed severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with granulomatous inflammatory reaction, consistent with ABRA. CONCLUSIONS Presentation of ABRA in a middle-aged patient highlighted the difficulties in recognition and management of this rare condition. There is emerging evidence that patients with CAA may have increased risk of fatal intracerebral haemorrhages following thrombolysis. This may be further increased by a coexisting CAA-related inflammatory vasculopathy which is potentially treatable with steroid therapy if early diagnosis is made.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zita Reisz
- grid.429705.d0000 0004 0489 4320Department of Clinical Neuropathology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Laszlo K. Sztriha
- grid.429705.d0000 0004 0489 4320Department of Neurology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - Istvan Bodi
- grid.429705.d0000 0004 0489 4320Department of Clinical Neuropathology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, UK ,grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aβ-related Angiitis (ABRA)-A Rare Paraneoplastic Cause of Cerebral Vasculitis in a Young Patient: A Pathway From Unspecific Neurological Symptoms to Final Diagnosis. Neurologist 2021; 26:103-107. [PMID: 33942793 DOI: 10.1097/nrl.0000000000000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aβ-related angiitis (ABRA) is a very rare disease entity with combined features of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and primary angiitis of the CNS. However, the pathogenesis has not been conclusively described yet. Interestingly though, a possible paraneoplastic origin has been reported in the past. ABRA leads to severe encephalopathy with a broad spectrum of unspecific neurological symptoms and usually occurs in older patients. Because of the response to immunological treatment, it is important to confirm the diagnosis as fast as possible. Unfortunately, the pathway to a definite diagnosis is often complicated and prolonged. CASE REPORT Here, we describe a 48-year-old-female patient presenting headache, behavioral changes as well as subacute fatigue and epileptic seizures in the recent past. The initial neuroradiological examination demonstrated extended lesions in the left hemisphere compatible with an inflammatory or neoplastic disease. After extensive investigations, initially without a definite result, we finally validated the diagnosis of ABRA by brain biopsy. Shortly afterwards a routine check-up revealed an invasive mammary carcinoma. Owing to a mandatory mastectomy and chemotherapy, an immunosuppressive therapy was not implemented. CONCLUSIONS The reported case demonstrates our diagnostic approach and the clinical difficulties in validating a rare cause of encephalopathy in a young patient with nonspecific clinical and neuroradiological findings. Because of the possibility of an effective treatment, it is important to consider ABRA in the differential diagnosis especially when blood tests, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, and angiography show normal results. Since a paraneoplastic genesis is presumed, a search for an underlying tumor disease should be considered.
Collapse
|
5
|
Ichimata S, Hata Y, Yoshida K, Nishida N. Autopsy of a multiple lobar hemorrhage case with amyloid-β-related angiitis. Neuropathology 2020; 40:280-286. [PMID: 31962374 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A 92-year-old man died of multiple lobar hemorrhage with amyloid-β protein (Aβ)-related angiitis (ABRA) with an unusual pathological appearance. Although he had shown relatively rapid progressive dementia, starting 1 year before death, there was no detailed clinical investigation, and no immunosuppressive or anticoagulant therapy, because of his advanced age. The autopsy showed two lobar hemorrhagic lesions in the right parietal lobe and temporal lobes. Microscopically, almost all the brain's blood vessels showed cerebral amyloid angiopathy with many foci of transmural vasculitis. Infiltrating cells were predominantly CD8-positive T-lymphocytes, but we observed no granulomatous inflammation with appearance of multinucleated giant cells. We found fibrinoid necrosis in some blood vessels and disruption of these blood vessels in the arachnoid space-cerebral cortex junction in the hemorrhagic lesion at the temporal lobe. We also observed an unusual, neutrophil-predominant, abscess-like vasculitis in the subarachnoid space; almost all such unusual vasculitides were located at a short distance from the two lobar hemorrhagic lesions. Serum anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic myeloperoxidase and proteinase-3 antibodies were negative, and the genotype of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene (ApoE) was ε2/ε3. Although we did not observe some of ABRA's typical histopathological findings, transmural and vascular destructive inflammation with Aβ deposition was consistent with ABRA. Vulnerability of blood vessels to fibrinoid necrosis might be associated with disruption of the relevant blood vessels, leading to lobar hemorrhage. ABRA exhibits various clinical and histopathological findings, depending on the patient's age, immune function status, treatment, and ApoE genotype. This is the first case and the oldest (92 years old) autopsy of ABRA associated with ApoE-ε2/ε3 genotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shojiro Ichimata
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yukiko Hata
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Hyogo Brain and Heart Center, Himeji, Japan
| | - Naoki Nishida
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Corovic A, Kelly S, Markus HS. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammation: A systematic review of clinical and imaging features and outcome. Int J Stroke 2017; 13:257-267. [DOI: 10.1177/1747493017741569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background Cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammation is an increasingly recognized condition, characterized by an inflammatory response to the vascular deposits of β-amyloid within the brain that are the hallmark of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Two main patterns of this inflammatory response have been identified to date: one involving a perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrate (cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation); the other a transmural vasculitic process (A-beta related angiitis). Unlike cerebral amyloid angiopathy itself, which predisposes to intracerebral hemorrhage and has no known treatment, cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammation typically presents in diverse ways and diagnosis may be challenging and delayed. Aims We sought to summarize the clinical features, imaging appearances and available data on outcome and treatment responses, using information derived from a systematic review of pathologically proven cases of cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammation. Summary of review We identified 213 distinct pathologically proven cases of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation/A-beta related angiitis, from 104 publications. The clinical presentation, imaging features, pathology, treatment, and outcomes of cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammation are described. Conclusions Cerebral amyloid angiopathy associated with inflammation is an important and increasingly recognized clinical condition, which affects the older patient population and presents most commonly with cognitive decline, seizures, and headaches. Future research is required to develop and validate diagnostic criteria and determine optimum treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Corovic
- Department of Stroke Medicine, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Siobhan Kelly
- Department of Stroke Medicine, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hugh S Markus
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chu S, Xu F, Su Y, Chen H, Cheng X. Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA)-Related Inflammation: Comparison of Inflammatory CAA and Amyloid-β-Related Angiitis. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 51:525-32. [PMID: 26890776 DOI: 10.3233/jad-151036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shuguang Chu
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feijia Xu
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Su
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Neuropathology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|