Vasculitis in the central nervous system

Primary CNS vasculitis: insights into clinical, neuropathological, and neuroradiological characteristics

Background and objectives

Primary CNS vasculitis (PCNSV) is a rare inflammatory disorder that affects the blood vessels of the central nervous system (CNS). We aimed to analyze the neurological presentations, clinical follow-up, and long-term outcomes of patients with primary central nervous system vasculitis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records to assess the neurological presentation, rate of remission, and functional status at the last follow-up in patients with primary central nervous system vasculitis seen in our center in the last 13 years (2010-2023).

Results

We identified five patients, whose median age at symptom onset was 31 years (range: 15-41 years), including four male individuals (80%) from Muslim Arab (n = 4) and Ashkenazi Jewish (n = 1) backgrounds. Symptoms persisted for a median of 36 weeks (range: 3 weeks to 4 years) before diagnosis, with one case exceeding 3 years. Follow-up lasted a median of 56 months (range: 20-161 months). Clinical symptoms varied, presenting unilateral weaknesses (n = 2), cognitive and gait abnormality (n = 1), headaches (n = 1), and epileptic seizures (n = 1). MRI scans revealed abnormalities in the basal ganglia, corona radiata, parietal, and frontal lobes, showing hemorrhage, vasogenic edema, restricted diffusion, and enhancement post-gadolinium. All patients reported progressive holocephalic headaches and cognitive changes with overall progressive symptoms. Initial neurological examinations revealed abnormalities in all patients and included one or more of the following: cognitive or visual impairment (n = 2), seizures (n = 1), and unilateral UMN signs (n = 2) at the initial neurological examination, all but one patient required walking aids including (cane 2, wheelchair, bedridden 1). Patients were stable (n = 2), deteriorated (n = 1), or improved (n = 2). Following treatment, two patients still required ambulatory aids, with one using a cane and the other using a wheelchair, while the remaining three did not require any ambulatory aids.

Discussion

The study on PCNSV highlights varied symptoms and diagnostic challenges, including delayed diagnosis and a spectrum of neurological issues from cognitive impairments to seizures. Brain biopsies showed lymphocytic infiltration, thrombi, and necrosis. Immunotherapy significantly improved clinical and radiological outcomes. Over 56 months of follow-up, outcomes varied from stability and deterioration to improvement.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (CNS) is an uncommon inflammatory disorder, with highly variable clinical presentation. It needs to be differentiated from several mimickers, such as CNS involvement in systemic vasculitides, connective tissue disorders, infectious disease, and leukodystrophy as well as neoplastic diseases. The diagnosis requires a combination of clinical and laboratory investigations, multimodal imaging, and histopathological examination, which should be available for confirmation. In the present paper, the histopathological features of primary angiitis of the CNS are described and highlighted to help pathologists avoid misdiagnosis of a treatable acquired disease.

Pathology of Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare and potentially severe form of vasculitis that is limited to the brain, spinal cord, and meninges. Despite extensive research, the etiology and underlying immunologic mechanisms of PACNS remain largely unknown. PACNS presents with a variety of clinical, radiological, and pathologic features, but it is generally characterized by inflammation and destruction of the walls of blood vessels in the CNS, which can lead to tissue ischemia and/or hemorrhage. Three main histopathologic patterns have been identified, namely granulomatous, lymphocytic, and necrotizing vasculitis.

Cerebral vasculitis as a complication of pneumococcal meningitis: A cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral vasculitis (CV) is a severe complication of pneumococcal meningitis (PM); whether dexamethasone use can reduce its occurrence remains to be determined.

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational bicentric study analyzing all adults with proven PM hospitalized between January 2002 and December 2020 in two tertiary hospitals. Extrapolating from a standardized definition of primary angiitis of the central nervous system, we defined CV as worsened neurological symptoms associated with compatible imaging. All images were analyzed by a radiologist, and two neurologists reviewed all inconclusive cases of suspected CV for adjudication. Factors associated with CV were analyzed, including dexamethasone use. A subgroup analysis was limited to patients with a lumbar puncture at PM diagnosis.

RESULTS

Among 168 patients with PM, 49 (29.2%) had CV, occurring after a median of 8 days (IQR 5-13) of PM diagnosis. In multivariate analysis (N = 151), initial CRP was associated with CV (OR 1.28 per 50-unit increase, p = 0.003), which was marginally linked with delayed hospital admission more than 48 hours after first symptoms (OR 2.39, p = 0.06) and prior NSAID intake (OR 2.94, p = 0.05). Dexamethasone administration did not impact CV occurrence. In 133 patients having undergone lumbar puncture, CSF protein level > 4.4 g/L (OR 4.50, p = 0.006) was associated with CV.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, CV was a frequent and severe complication of PM, often occurring in association with unduly delayed medical care, high CRP at admission, and high levels of protein in CSF.

Giant cell arteritis with severe intracranial involvement diagnosed and treated early

Background

Ischemic cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) occur in 3.3-7.2% of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), and intracranial vessels are rarely affected. We, herein, report a case of intracranial GCA with rapidly progressive multiple intracranial vascular lesions.

Case Description

A 76-year-old woman visited a local doctor due to a headache; then, it improved spontaneously. Three months later, she suddenly had cerebral infarctions of bilateral pons and cerebellum. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed the left internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, the right vertebral artery (VA) occlusion, and the left VA stenosis. She was diagnosed with atherothrombotic stroke and dual antiplatelet therapy was administered. However, 2 weeks later, the left VA stenosis was aggravated. Therefore, we reviewed the data of MRA performed 3 months ago and noted no lesions in the ICA and VA. T1 black-blood post-gadolinium imaging sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed vessel wall enhancement in the bilateral VA, left ICA, and bilateral superficial temporal artery. We performed a temporal artery biopsy and diagnosed her with GCA. The progression of the intracranial vascular lesions was decelerated by oral glucocorticoid administration.

Conclusion

Intracranial vascular lesions in GCA can be formed later than initial symptoms, such as headache, and aggravated despite improvement in headache. In patients with GCA, evaluating intracranial vessels as a control is useful for distinguishing them from arteriosclerotic lesions at the onset of CVA. Intracranial GCA is characterized by rapidly progressive vascular lesions in the bilateral ICA and VA. In addition, T1 black-blood post-gadolinium imaging sequence MRI may lead to early diagnosis and treatment.

Utility of high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging in differentiating between atherosclerotic plaques, vasculitis, and arterial dissection

PURPOSE

Differentiating between atherosclerosis, vasculitis, and dissection is a diagnostic challenge because of inconclusive findings on conventional imaging and some overlap in the vessel wall patterns. The aim of this study was to determine whether vessel wall MRI patterns can differentiate between these vasculopathies.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 3T high-resolution vessel wall imaging studies of patients diagnosed with atherosclerotic plaques, vasculitis, and dissection. The patterns of involvement, wall enhancement, and T1 and T2 signals, as well as the specific patterns, were assessed and compared between the three diseases.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients with atherosclerosis (n = 33), vasculitis (n = 13), and dissection (n = 13) were enrolled. There were significant differences in the pattern of involvement between the three groups (P < 0.001), with concentric wall thickening in vasculitis patients (84.6%) and eccentric wall thickening in atherosclerosis (97%) and dissection (92.3%) patients. There was also a significant difference in the specific pattern (P < 0.001), with intimal flap (76.9%) and intramural hematoma (23.1%) in dissection patients and intraplaque hemorrhage (18.2%) in atherosclerosis patients. Furthermore, subgroup analysis showed a significant difference in the wall enhancement pattern between atherosclerosis and vasculitis patients (P < 0.05). Finally, there was a significant difference in the location of involvement between the three groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

By using the pattern of involvement, wall enhancement, and specific patterns, vessel wall MRI can help differentiate between atherosclerosis, vasculitis, and dissection.

Newer Updates in Pediatric Vascular Diseases

Pediatric neurovascular pathology directly involves or is in close proximity to the central nervous system (CNS). These vascular pathologies can occur in isolation or in association with broader syndromes. While some vascular pathologies are unique to the pediatric population, the full spectrum of adult neurovascular lesions can also affect children however, may present differently both clinically and on diagnostic imaging. Non-invasive (Ultrasound, CT, MRI) imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up of vascular lesions involving the CNS. The modality can be chosen based on the age of the child, urgency of diagnosis, and local availability. Each modality has sensitivities and specificities which vary based on the location and imaging findings of a specific neurovascular pathology. In addition to non-invasive options, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) may be used as both a diagnostic and therapeutic imaging method for pediatric vascular lesions of the central nervous system. The diagnosis and management of pediatric cerebrovascular disease requires the close collaboration between pediatricians and pediatric specialists including neuroradiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, neurointerventionalists, and anesthesiologists among others. A detailed understanding of imaging findings, natural history, and treatment options is essential to guide and monitor imaging and treatment. The goal of this review is to provide the reader with an overview on pediatric neurovascular pathologies, provide examples of pathognomonic imaging findings, and present a brief review of endovascular treatment options, if applicable.

Moyamoya Vasculopathy: Cause, Clinical Manifestations, Neuroradiologic Features, and Surgical Management

In moyamoya disease, the progressive occlusion of the distal portion of the internal carotid artery and its major branches is typically responsible for the formation of an extensive network of collateral vessels at the base of the brain. When moyamoya collateral network develops in association with various systemic or acquired diseases, the term moyamoya syndrome is used to denote this phenomenon. Sudden changes in the supraclinoid internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery can be recognized with noninvasive neurovascular imaging techniques, which also allow a differential diagnosis with similar diseases such as degenerative steno-occlusive disease, cerebral vasculitis, and twig-like middle cerebral artery. Once the diagnosis is established, the definitive treatment for moyamoya disease is surgical revascularization, with the goal of increasing cerebral blood flow and preventing recurrent stroke. We provide a comprehensive review of the clinical and radiologic features in moyamoya vasculopathy along with its surgical management.

Giant cell arteritis with simultaneous onset of multiple intracranial vascular occlusions: A case report

Background:

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) causes severe stenosis or occlusion of the arteries but rarely affects the intracranial arteries. We report a rare case of GCA along with autopsy results.

Case Description:

A 69-year-old man developed gait disturbance due to vertebral artery (VA) occlusion. As is common in atherothrombotic stroke, dual antiplatelet therapy was administered. The patient’s symptoms improved temporarily. However, his symptoms relapsed and his consciousness was acutely disturbed. Digital subtraction angiography revealed an appearance of stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) C2 portion on the right side and decreased retrograde basilar artery (BA) blood flow through the right posterior communicating artery. Balloon angioplasty was performed, and BA blood flow increased. GCA was suspected, and a definitive diagnosis was made based on temporal artery biopsy findings. Steroid therapy was initiated but failed to control disease progression, and the patient died. The autopsy findings revealed GCA in the bilateral ICAs and VAs, and no signs of GCA were found in other intracranial arteries, despite occlusion on magnetic resonance angiography.

Conclusion:

GCA of the intracranial blood vessels is rare and might be more likely to occur in the ICAs and VAs than in other intracranial blood vessels. GCA of the intracranial blood vessels has a poor prognosis, and as such, if rapid changes are observed in the ICAs or VAs, GCA should be considered a part of the differential diagnosis and immediate treatment should be administered.

CNS vasculopathies: Challenging mimickers of primary angiitis of the central nervous system

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (CNS) is an inflammatory vasculopathy affecting the brain and spinal cord. It is a difficult diagnosis to make because of its insidious nonspecific course and its multiple mimics. This review identifies and discusses some noninfectious mimickers of primary CNS angiitis, including: reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, Sneddon's Syndrome, amyloid-beta-related angiopathy, Susac Syndrome, and neurosarcoidosis. Each condition will be reviewed in terms of epidemiology, pathology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and treatment. Distinguishing these mimics from the primary angiitis of the CNS is important for proper treatment and prognosis.

Concordance of angiography and cerebral biopsy results for suspected primary central nervous system vasculitis: A multi-center retrospective review

OBJECTIVE

Primary CNS Vasculitis (PCNSV) is a rare disease that is often challenging to diagnose. Cerebral angiography and biopsy have been utilized in the diagnostic workup for several decades but limited literature reports on the concordance of findings of angiography and biopsy. The primary objective of this work was to examine how cerebral angiography corresponded with biopsy findings in patients with suspected PCNSV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 128 patients who underwent workup for PCNSV between years 2005-2016 were identified by query of existing neurological surgery and angiography databases at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (UHCMC) and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF). The primary outcome was to examine the concordance of results between angiography and cerebral biopsy. Secondary outcomes included examining concordance between results of biopsy and other commonly performed tests for diagnosis of PCNSV including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count (CSF WBC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP).

RESULTS

128 patients underwent cerebral biopsy for diagnosis of suspected PCNSV. 93 (73%) of these patients also underwent angiography. Of the 34 patients with positive biopsy findings, only 5 also had positive angiography. Positive angiography was not found to be correlated with positive biopsy in our analysis. The only test that was significantly associated with biopsy proven vasculitis was increased CSF WBC count (P = 0.0114).

CONCLUSIONS

PCNSV is a rare disease and often requires multiple tests or procedures to obtain definitive diagnosis. These results suggest that cerebral angiography findings are not associated with biopsy findings and should be used cautiously in the diagnostic work-up of PCNSV.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Angiitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Primary central nervous system angiitis (PCNSA) is a rare disease. Varying clinical pictures coupled with lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests lead to challenges in management of these patients. This unfortunately may lead to both under- or over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment. It is important to recognize the different conditions that may mimic the clinical and radiologic presentation. We present a contemporary literature review that should update physicians who encounter this patient population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent additions to the literature in form of case reports and single-center series show that digital subtraction angiography was the most widely used test to diagnose PCNSA. It is also important to note that brain biopsy is still considered "gold standard" and should be pursued as it not only has information that establishes the diagnosis but also may help in ruling out the diagnosis from mimics. In around 39% of suspected cases, an alternate diagnosis was eventually confirmed highlighting the importance of a comprehensive work-up. For treatment, almost all the literature supports the use of glucocorticoids as the initial treatment and if the patient has a relapse or develops steroid toxicity then the second most commonly used agent was cyclophosphamide. There are increasing reports of benefits with other agents such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate, infliximab, and etanercept. The diagnosis and management of PCNSA continues to be a challenge. Formation of prospective patient registries with continued immunologic research for novel targets and immunomodulatory modalities may hold promise for future care of these patients.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system: diagnosis and treatment

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) represents a rare inflammatory disease affecting the brain and spinal cord. Stroke, encephalopathy, headache and seizures are major clinical manifestations. The diagnosis of PACNS is based on the combination of clinical presentation, imaging findings (magnetic resonance imaging and angiography), brain biopsy, and laboratory and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) values. PACNS can either be confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)/conventional angiography or tissue biopsy showing the presence of typical histopathological patterns. Identification of PACNS mimics is often challenging in clinical practice, but crucial to avoid far-reaching treatment decisions. In view of the severity of the disease, with considerable morbidity and mortality, early recognition and treatment initiation is necessary. Due to the rareness and heterogeneity of the disease, there is a lack of randomized data on treatment strategies. Retrospective studies suggest the combined administration of cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids as induction therapy. Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil are often applied for maintenance therapy. In addition, the beneficial effects of two biological agents (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab and tumour necrosis factor-α blocker) have been reported. Nevertheless, diagnosis and treatment is still a clinical challenge, and further insights into the immunopathogenesis of PACNS are required to improve the diagnosis and management of patients. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of diagnostics, differential diagnoses, and therapeutic approaches of adult PACNS.

Lethal Subarachnoid and Intracerebral Haemorrhage Associated with Temporal Arteritis. A Case Report

Giant cell arteritis is a systemic inflammatory vasculitis, typically involving the superficial temporal arteries, but with possible ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular complications. The case is reported of a patient with a clinical picture of giant cell arteritis, who had multiple occupational exposures to various infectious agents. His initial favourable progress was followed by an atypical outcome. Despite immunosuppressive treatment, he developed fatal subarachnoid and intracerebral haemorrhages, possibly due to rupture of a microaneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery.

Intra cranial granulomatous disease in common variable immunodeficiency: Case series and review of the literature

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is typically characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and often but not always recurrent infections. Paradoxically, 8-22% of patients with CVID develop granulomatous disease. Granulomata have been described in many organs including the lungs, skin, liver, spleen, kidneys, eyes, lymph nodes, and intestines. Data about central nervous system (CNS) involvement in CVID are extremely rare. We aim to describe a case series and include an extensive literature review of CNS involvement in CVID to understand the different features and patterns of the disease.

METHODS

We searched the English Pubmed database for relevant articles between 1950 and 2014 using the Key Words "common variable immunodeficiency", "granulomatous disease", "brain", "sarcoidosis", and "sarcoid-like syndrome". Data from all case series, surveys, systematic reviews, and individual case reports, as well as retrospective studies were extracted. A total of 15 patients were reported in the literature. We combined our experience with four additional patients from The Cleveland Clinic between 2009 and 2014. Demographics, clinical features, laboratory and imaging findings, treatment and follow-up were extracted for the 19 patients and summarized descriptively.

RESULTS

Female sex and Caucasian race represented 63.2% (12/19), and 80% of the patients, respectively. The mean age of CVID diagnosis was 24 years; mean age when the CNS disease was diagnosed was 21.5 years. 68.4% of the patients (13/19) had granulomas involving ≥2 organs including the central nervous system, 31.6% (6/19) had CNS granulomas only. Associated granulomatous diseases occurred in lungs (72.7%), lymph nodes (27.2%), spleen (27.2%), eyes (18.1%), liver (18.1%), parotid glands (9%), and skin (9%). Fifty-three percent (10/19) of the patients had documented recurrent infections, all of them being upper respiratory tract infections. CNS manifestations included seizures (31.6%), headaches (21%), vision loss (15.7%), decreased cognition (10.5%), focal weakness (5.2%), nystagmus (5.2%), ataxia (5.2%), coma (5.2%), polyuria, and polydipsia (5.2%). Brain mass was the most common radiologic finding (70%) followed by leptomeningeal enhancement (10%), non-specific white matter lesions (10%) and absence of normal signal of the neurohypophysis (10%). Brain pathology was available in 12 patients: findings included granulomatous disease in 83.3%, angiocentric granulomas in 50%, vasculitis without granulomas in 8.3%, and lymphocytic infiltrate of the meninges with diffuse non-caseating granulomas in 8.3%. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed elevated total proteins with/or without lymphocytic pleocytosis in 80%.

CONCLUSION

CNS disease is a rare challenging complication of CVID. Patients with brain involvement are generally female, Caucasian, and likely have lung involvement. Although immunoglobulin and steroids remain the first line of treatment, other immunosuppressive agents have shown some promise with regards to recurrent relapsing presentations.

Primary Angiitis of the Center Nervous System: A Clinical Challenge Diagnosed Postmortem

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare vasculitis involving medium and small blood vessels of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges, without systemic involvement. The diffuse and patchy nature of its pathology is reflected by a wide spectrum of nonspecific clinical symptoms. Diagnosis is challenging due to lack of defined clinical criteria or specific imaging findings. Specific workup should be done only after exclusion of other etiologies, including infectious, neoplastic, toxic, and other vascular etiologies including systemic vasculitis. Given the fact that it is a patchy disease with 25% of the biopsies being falsely negative, treating physician should have a high index of suspicion despite negative initial neurovascular imaging and biopsy results. Once diagnosed, early treatment with immunosuppressive therapy is essential to avoid permanent neurologic damage. Herein, we are reporting a case of 66-year-old female patient who presented with insidious onset right-sided frontal headache. Her hospital course progressively worsened and family decision based on her wishes was to refer her to hospice and comfort care. Despite an extensive workup with advanced imaging techniques, no diagnosis was established until postmortem autopsy and histopathology confirmed primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

Hemorrhagic primary CNS angiitis and vasoconstrictive drug exposure

BACKGROUND

Primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS) typically manifests with accumulating neurologic deficits from ischemic strokes. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an uncommon complication. There is limited knowledge about the risk factors and features of hemorrhagic PACNS.

METHODS

We identified 49 patients (20 biopsy-proven) with PACNS diagnosed at our hospital from 1993 to 2015. We compared the features of hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic PACNS and analyzed the hemorrhagic PACNS cases in detail.

RESULTS

The mean age was 51 ± 15 years; 13 patients were men. Five patients had ICH (mean age 52 ± 14 years; 4 men) including 4 where ICH was the first manifestation of PACNS. All ICH patients reported recent exposure to sympathomimetic drugs (e.g., diet pills, nasal decongestants). Patients with ICH had higher rates of headache (100% vs 43%, p = 0.022), especially thunderclap headache (60% vs 0%, p = 0.001), and eosinophilic vascular infiltrates on brain biopsy (50% vs 9%, p = 0.084). In all ICH patients, brain MRI showed lobar hemorrhages with concurrent punctate diffusion-restricted lesions, suggesting an acute inflammatory process. Four received a short course of immunosuppressive therapy. All patients showed complete clinical resolution or significant improvement within weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, hemorrhagic PACNS was exclusively associated with sympathomimetic drug exposure. The high rate of thunderclap headache, lobar hemorrhages, and the self-limited clinical course suggests a shared mechanism between hemorrhagic PACNS and the reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), a PACNS mimic. This RCVS-PACNS overlap syndrome may result from sympathomimetic drug-induced prolonged distal vasoconstriction, culminating in inflammation.

Primary CNS vasculitis masquerading as glioblastoma: A case report and review

Isolated angitis of the central nervous system (IACNS)/primary angitis of central nervous system vasculitis (PACNS) is an uncommon vascular disease, sparingly presenting as an isolated inflammatory lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The disease usually manifests as a long-drawn and progressive ischemic event. Delay in diagnosis due to focal nature of the lesion also contributes to the poor prognosis as the dismal natural history and immunosuppressive therapy. To date, only a few cases with tumor-like isolated angitis of CNS have been reported with clear and definitive diagnostic workup.

Clinical Mimics: An Emergency Medicine-Focused Review of Stroke Mimics

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability and most commonly presents with focal neurologic deficit within a specific vascular distribution. Several other conditions may present in a similar manner.

OBJECTIVES

This review provides emergency providers with an understanding of stroke mimics, use of thrombolytics in these mimics, and keys to differentiate true stroke from mimic.

DISCUSSION

Stroke has significant morbidity and mortality, and the American Heart Association emphasizes rapid recognition and aggressive treatment for patients with possible stroke-like symptoms, including thrombolytics. However, many conditions mimic the presentation of stroke, with up to a 31% rate of misdiagnosis, leading to potentially harmful treatment. Stroke mimics are conditions that present with stroke-like symptoms, including seizures, headaches, metabolic, infection, space-occupying lesion, neurodegenerative disorder, peripheral neuropathy, syncope, vascular disorder, and functional disorder. Factors of history and physical examination supporting stroke vs. mimic are discussed, though any sudden-onset, objective, focal neurologic deficit in a patient should be assumed acute stroke until proven otherwise. Head computed tomography noncontrast is the first-line imaging modality. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most sensitive and specific imaging modality. Neurology consultation is recommended in the majority of patients. If stroke is suspected after evaluation, shared decision-making for further management and consideration of thrombolytics is recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

Stroke mimics present a conundrum for emergency providers. A new focal neurologic deficit warrants rapid evaluation for stroke with neuroimaging and neurology consultation. Several mimics found on assessment may resolve with treatment.

Primary CNS vasculitis presenting as intraventricular bleeding

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare disorder affecting both medium- and small-sized vessels. Intracranial haemorrhages though less reported are in the form of parenchymal haemorrhage and subarachnoid haemorrhage. We report a case of PACNS with intraventricular haemorrhage due to aneurysms secondary to progression of vasculitis.

Severe Intracranial Involvement in Giant Cell Arteritis: 5 Cases and Literature Review

Objective.

Involvement of intracranial arteries in giant cell arteritis (GCA) is rare. We describe the neurologic complications of intracranial GCA (IC GCA) and available treatment options.

Methods.

We describe 5 IC GCA cases from 3 Canadian vasculitis centers and review the literature. We searched English-language publications reporting similar patients meeting American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for GCA and having intracranial artery involvement diagnosed by autopsy, magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomography angiography, or conventional angiography.

Results.

All 5 cases of IC GCA met ACR criteria for GCA; 4 cases had a temporal artery biopsy that was consistent with GCA. All cases experienced cerebrovascular accident(s). Arteritis involved the following vessels: intracranial internal carotid (n = 1), vertebrobasilar arteries (n = 1), or both (n = 3). All cases received aspirin and oral prednisone (preceded by intravenous methylprednisone in 3 cases), combined with an immunosuppressant in 4 cases. All patients survived; 2 had complete neurological recovery, 3 had residual neurologic sequelae. The literature review included 42 cases from 28 publications. The clinical features of the reported cases were similar to those of our 5 cases. However, mortality was 100% in untreated cases (n = 2), 58% in those treated with corticosteroid alone (n = 31), and 40% in those treated with corticosteroid and an immunosuppressant (n = 10).

Conclusion.

IC GCA appears to be associated with neurologic complications and mortality. In some cases corticosteroid alone was not sufficient to prevent neurologic complications. The role of additional immunosuppressive agents needs further investigation.

Primary angiitis of central nervous system: The story of a great masquerader

Primary angiitis of central nervous system (PACNS) is characterized by non-caseating granulomatous angiitis restricted to CNS. The condition often masquerades as migraine, stroke, epilepsy, dementia, demyelinating disorder and CNS infection. The protean manifestations frequently lead to misdiagnoses. We present a case of a young male from rural background that remained undiagnosed for years as the possibility of PACNS was not considered. He had history suggestive of migraine-like headaches followed by seizures. Subsequently, he developed rapidly progressive dementia and two episodes of hemorrhagic strokes over a short period. The diagnosis was finally clinched by the absence of evidence of systemic vasculitis and the presence of characteristic non-caseating granuloma around vessels of duramater and cerebral parenchyma on brain biopsy. He was started on pulse therapy with intravenous cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone. The current literature about the condition and its management is reviewed in this report.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system in adults and children

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare disease, although it is increasingly recognized both in adults and children. Little is known about pathogenesis, but efforts at classification into subtypes are being made, and the distinction of PACNS from reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome has been a major advance. The prognosis for improvement, or at least stabilization, of neurologic function is good with prompt and aggressive treatment, but the diagnosis continues to be challenging. Refinement of treatment strategies is needed. Multicenter collaboration may be crucial to make additional progress via randomized trials.

Reversible vasoconstriction syndrome involving the basilar artery in an adolescent: imaging and clinical features

IMPORTANCE

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of "thunderclap headache" and by transient, multifocal vasoconstriction of cerebral vasculature. Here we present an adolescent boy whose clinical features fit the diagnostic criteria and whose neurovascular imaging revealed reversible vasoconstriction of the basilar artery alone.

OBSERVATION

A previously healthy 14-year-old boy presented with repeated severe sudden thunderclap headaches following exercise. These symptoms were accompanied by isolated basilar artery stenosis.

CONCLUSION

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is a condition with several clinical triggers. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood. This patient adds to a broadening spectrum of clinical features of this disorder.

Primary Central Nervous System Angiitis in a 10-year-old Girl

Primary angiitis of central nervous system (PACNS) is well reported, however its occurrence in the pediatric population is infrequent. We describe the clinical, neuroimaging and histopathological features of PACNS in a young girl.

A ten year-old, previously healthy girl presented with a threeweek history of progressive left hemiparesis and facial weakness. Other findings included left hemineglect, impaired concentration and memory. She had no evidence of systemic disease. Head computed tomography (CT), with and without contrast, revealed no abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multifocal, bilateral signal abnormalities within basal ganglia, thalami, right frontal cortex and subcortical white matter on T2 and FLAIR images. However, these areas did not show restricted diffusion on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Cerebral angiography revealed normal intracranial vessels (Figure 1). Neuroimaging, three weeks later, showed progression of these abnormalities. The areas of abnormal signal showed heterogeneous and nodular enhancement on gadolinium enhanced T1 weighted images (Figure 2). Rheumatologic, metabolic, prothrombotic and cerebral spinal fluid investigations were normal.

Childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system with metachronous hemorrhagic infarcts: a postmortem study with clinicopathologic correlation

This neuropathologic case study illustrates the discovery of metachronous hemorrhagic infarcts insinuating round mass-like lesions by magnetic resonance imaging in the setting of childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system (cPACNS) raising diagnostic awareness of this unusual presentation in a clinical and neuroimaging context. The report underscores the importance of recurrent vasculitis-induced ischemic brain damage as a pathologic correlate of relapsing cPACNS and offers a critical reappraisal of common imitators as well as a clinicopathologic approach to differential diagnosis. Attention is drawn to the caveat that although magnetic resonance imaging findings at initial presentation may not be typical for stroke, they later exhibit attributes of cerebral infarction at both the subacute and chronic stages. A pattern of cPACNS characterized predominantly by multiple petechial-like cortical hemorrhages with pathologic features of hemorrhagic infarcts is recognized. The present study lends credence to the practice of a rigorous autopsy-based approach aimed at a better understanding of the anatomic pathology and biology of cPACNS and at facilitating prospective neuroimaging and biopsy-based surgical pathology correlations, ultimately enhancing diagnostic accuracy in clinical settings. Although PACNS is, by definition, a diagnosis of exclusion, it should be considered from the outset in the differential diagnosis of ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke or of unusual and relapsing intra-axial mass-like CNS lesions in children, necessitating appropriate pathologic evaluation of brain biopsy specimens.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is one of the most devastating pathologic processes that affect the central nervous system (CNS). It results in exclusive inflammation and destruction of CNS blood vessels. Progressive debilitating unexplained neurological deficit associated with abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis findings is the typical picture of the disease. CNS biopsy is the gold standard diagnostic test. Immunosuppressive therapy is the core treatment. Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a main mimic of PACNS. RCVS is characterized clinically by recurrent thunderclap headache with or without neurological deficit and normal CSF analysis findings and angiographically by reversible diffuse segmental vasospasm of intracranial vessels. A stepwise diagnostic approach should be followed to differentiate PACNS from RCVS and exclude the other clinical, radiographic, and angiographic mimics.

Radial contrast enhancement on brain magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic of primary angiitis of the central nervous system: a case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare disease of unclear etiology. There is no single test diagnostic of primary angiitis of the central nervous system. We report an unusual pattern on brain magnetic resonance imaging that might be specific for primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 47-year-old Caucasian man developed progressive bilateral hand tremor, difficulty walking, cognitive slowing and headache. A physical examination showed bilateral hand tremor with dysmetria, hyperreflexia and abnormal gait. Magnetic resonance imaging of his brain showed bilateral, symmetrical, increased intensity on T2-weighted images concurrent with linear contrast enhancement in a radial distribution throughout his white matter, sparing subcortical regions in his centrum semiovale, corona radiata, basal ganglia and brainstem. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated elevated choline and decreased N-acetyl aspartate. Except for elevated protein and lymphocytic pleocytosis, examination of his cerebrospinal fluid showed no abnormalities. Serological tests for rheumatologic, vasculitic, paraneoplastic, infectious and peroxisomal disorders were negative. A brain biopsy revealed primary angiitis of the central nervous system. Our patient was treated with steroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide, with improvement in signs and symptoms as well as changes on magnetic resonance imaging.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral, symmetrical, increased intensity on T2-weighted images concurrent with linear contrast enhancement in a radial distribution throughout the white matter on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain should be recognized as a feature of primary angiitis of the central nervous system, and might avoid the need for a brain biopsy to diagnose primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

Angiography-negative primary angiitis of the central nervous system in childhood

Childhood primary angiitis of the CNS is a recently characterized, potentially reversible disease process. A favorable outcome requires early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The histological findings of childhood primary angiitis of the CNS are characterized by a lymphocytic, nongranulomatous vasculitis. This disorder can lead to neurological deficits, seizures, and strokes. Laboratory and radiographic investigation are part of the evaluation, but are often nonspecific. Conventional angiography can fail to show any abnormality, and biopsy may ultimately be required for diagnosis. Although there can be significant rates of morbidity and mortality if untreated, patients who receive appropriate therapy can experience excellent outcomes, and in many cases will demonstrate near-complete or total clinical and radiographic resolution. The case of a previously healthy 13-year-old girl with new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures is presented, with a review of the literature.

Central nervous system angiitis: a series of 31 patients

Central nervous system (CNS) angiitis is a rare inflammatory disorder. To date, clinical data are lacking and treatment remains a matter of debate. The aim of this study is to analyse the main characteristics, response to therapy and outcome of 32 patients with CNS angiitis. Single-centre retrospective study in a tertiary centre was made. Diagnosis of CNS angiitis was made by cerebral angiography and/or magnetic resonance angiography and/or CNS biopsy. The main features and outcomes of primary and secondary CNS angiitis were compared and predictive factors of a favourable outcome were searched. Thirty-one patients (median age 45 Q1-Q3 37-54) sex ratio F/M 2.1) were included. Main clinical features were hemiparesis (35.5 %) and headache (29 %). The median CSF protein level was 0.64(0.52-0.81) g/L and was superior to 1 g/L in six cases. CNS magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings were most frequently ischemic (96.8 %), bilateral (83.9 %), multiple (87.1 %) and supratentorial (96.8 %). The MR angiography was abnormal in all cases. Among the 31 patients in the study, 19 (61.3 %) were diagnosed with primary CNS angiitis. Systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 6) and vasculitis (n = 4) were the most frequent aetiologies of secondary CNS angiitis. No difference was evidenced between primary and secondary CNS angiitis. Steroids were administered in 79.2 % of treated patients and combined with immunosuppressants in 79.2 % of cases. Eight cases of CNS angiitis relapse were noted. CNS angiitis remains a severe illness. Treatment often associated steroids and immunosuppressants, and diagnosis delay is significantly associated with a poorer prognosis.

Limited utility of current MRI criteria for distinguishing multiple sclerosis from common mimickers: primary and secondary CNS vasculitis, lupus and Sjogren's syndrome

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria play an important role in making an earlier diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients presenting with clinically isolated syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this paper is to determine whether MRI criteria may be used to distinguish MS from primary and secondary central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis, lupus, and Sjogren's syndrome.

METHODS

MRI criteria were applied retrospectively to images for patients with clinically definite MS (CDMS), primary CNS vasculitis, secondary CNS vasculitis, and autoimmune disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjogren's syndrome. Classical statistics and Bayesian analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Overall modified Barkhof's MRI criteria were statistically significant in distinguishing CDMS (60%) from SLE/Sjogren's syndrome (17%, p = 0.0173) but not in distinguishing CDMS from primary CNS vasculitis (50%, p = 0.7376) or secondary CNS vasculitis (58%, p = 1.0000). Four of the five other MRI criteria tested were demonstrated to be superior to modified Barkhof's criteria in predicting MS: nine or more T2 lesions (a component of Barkhof's criteria), one or more ovoid periventricular T2 lesions, one or more perpendicular periventricular T2 lesions, and one or more T2 lesions larger than 6 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI criteria, including the modified Barkhof's criteria, were unsuccessful in distinguishing MS from primary CNS vasculitis or secondary CNS vasculitis and mildly successful in distinguishing MS from SLE/Sjogren's syndrome.

Stroke mimics

Stroke mimics are an important consideration for emergency physicians and physician extenders working in emergency departments. The emergency medicine physician must determine whether the acute neurologic deficits represent a transient event or a potential stroke. This article describes the common stroke mimic presentations by cause, including toxic-metabolic pathologies, seizure disorders, degenerative neurologic conditions, and peripheral neuropathies.

Cerebral vasculitis presenting as a stroke

A 57-year-old man was admitted with right arm weakness and numbness on the background of intermittent headaches. On examination he was found to have mildly decreased sensation, power was 4/5 on the right side. He had dyspraxia in the right hand and was unable to spell his name. His speech was hesitant and he had left-sided visual field impairment as well as some photophobia. MRI and CT revealed multiple areas of haemorrhage and infarctions raising the possibility of primary angitis of brain. The biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The patient responded to steroids and immunosuppressants partially.

Adult primary central nervous system vasculitis

Primary CNS vasculitis is an uncommon disorder of unknown cause that is restricted to brain and spinal cord. The median age of onset is 50 years. The neurological manifestations are diverse, but generally consist of headache, altered cognition, focal weakness, or stroke. Serological markers of inflammation are usually normal. Cerebrospinal fluid is abnormal in about 80-90% of patients. Diagnosis is unlikely in the presence of a normal MRI of the brain. Biopsy of CNS tissue showing vasculitis is the only definitive test; however, angiography has often been used for diagnosis even though it has only moderate sensitivity and specificity. The size of the affected vessels varies and determines outcome and response to treatment. Early recognition is important because treatment with corticosteroids with or without cytotoxic drugs can often prevent serious outcomes. The differential diagnosis includes reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes and secondary cerebral vasculitis.

Central nervous system vasculitis: still more questions than answers

The central nervous system (CNS) may be involved by a variety of inflammatory diseases of blood vessels. These include primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS), a rare disorder specifically targeting the CNS vasculature, and the systemic vasculitides which may affect the CNS among other organs and systems. Both situations are severe and convey a guarded prognosis. PACNS usually presents with headache and cognitive impairment. Focal symptoms are infrequent at disease onset but are common in more advanced stages. The diagnosis of PACNS is difficult because, although magnetic resonance imaging is almost invariably abnormal, findings are non specific. Angiography has limited sensitivity and specificity. Brain and leptomeningeal biopsy may provide a definitive diagnosis when disclosing blood vessel inflammation and are also useful to exclude other conditions presenting with similar findings. However, since lesions are segmental, a normal biopsy does not completely exclude PACNS. Secondary CNS involvement by systemic vasculitis occurs in less than one fifth of patients but may be devastating. A prompt recognition and aggressive treatment is crucial to avoid permanent damage and dysfunction. Glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide are recommended for patients with PACNS and for patients with secondary CNS involvement by small-medium-sized systemic vasculitis. CNS involvement in large-vessel vasculitis is usually managed with high-dose glucocorticoids (giant-cell arteritis) or glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents (Takayasu's disease). However, in large vessel vasculitis, where CNS symptoms are usually due to involvement of extracranial arteries (Takayasu's disease) or proximal portions of intracranial arteries (giant-cell arteritis), revascularization procedures may also have an important role.