Primary angiitis of the central nervous system: MRI features and clinical presentation

We report the MRI features in a series of four patients with primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS). Based on MRI features, clinical presentation, paraclinical investigations and laboratory tests, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, various differentials were considered. In two patients with MRI findings of cortical, subcortical and deep white matter lesions, lack of mass effect, focal areas of bleed and heterogeneous parenchymal, leptomeningeal or pial enhancement and a normal magnetic resonance angiography, a differential diagnosis of primary angiitis of the CNS was also considered. In all patients, an open brain biopsy was advised to establish a definitive diagnosis of PACNS. Here, we briefly discuss the MRI features, correlation with clinical presentation and paraclinical parameters for the diagnosis of this entity. We also briefly review the literature.     

Isolated angiitis of the central nervous system: involvement of penetrating vessels at the base of the brain

Summary Isolated angiitis of the central nervous system (IAC) was diagnosed in a 40-year-old Caucasian male by histological examination of a leptomeningeal biopsy specimen, and the exclusion of systemic inflammatory or infective disease. Therapy with prednisone 30 mg/day and cyclophosphamide 100 mg/day resulted in clinical and radiological improvement, which have been maintained for an 8-month follow-up period. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lesions implicating involvement of specific penetrating vessels at the base of the brain, an unusual complication of IAC, and allowed an accurate MRI-clinical correlation.     

Peripheral nerve involvement in Churg-Strauss syndrome

Summary Peripheral neuropathy associated with bronchial asthma, multisystem organ dysfunction and idiopathic hypereosinophilia may be found in Churg-Strauss syndrome, hypereosinophilic syndrome and polyarteritis nodosa. Some authors have diagnosed their patients according to the presence in tissue biopsies of the three histological criteria of Churg and Strauss (necrotizing vasculitis, tissue eosinophilic infiltration, extravascular granulomas). We have observed three patients with a common history of a prodromal phase of allergic diseases (bronchial asthma and rhinitis) followed by a vasculitic phase with mononeuritis multiplex, purpura and arthritis, associated with hypereosinophilia of more than 1500 cells/mm³. All responded well to steroid treatment. Sural nerve biopsy revealed true vasculitis in two of these cases and a mild perivascular inflammatory infiltration in the other. On the basis of their characteristic clinical pattern, we think that our cases best fit the diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome even though the typical histological features were not found in the sural nerves examined.     

血栓闭塞性脉管炎血管中膜免疫复合物沉积的电镜观察

目的 :探讨血栓闭塞性脉管炎 (TAO)发病机制。方法 :利用透射电镜观察 9例 TAO患者血管中膜免疫复合物沉积与分布。结果 :在 4例 TAO患者血管中膜平滑肌细胞内和平滑肌细胞间观察到高电子致密度的免疫复合物沉积 ,同时还观察到与免疫复合物沉积与损伤相关的淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞、中性粒细胞。结论 :免疫复合物在血管壁沉积可能与 TAO发病有密切关系     

IVIG in childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system: A case report

Aggressive immunosuppressive therapies have been proposed to treat primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS). Here, we report the first successfully stabilized case of childhood, small-vessel PACNS with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy.A 12-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital complaining of recurrent headaches and upper-left homonymous quadrantanopia, since the age of 11 years. Brain computed tomography scans revealed fine calcification in the right temporal and occipital lobes. Brain magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed white matter lesions, with gadolinium enhancement, which waxed, waned, and migrated for 1 year, without immunomodulatory therapies. A cerebrospinal fluid study showed pleocytosis (12 cells per µl). No clinical or serological findings suggested systemic inflammation or vasculitis. Brain angiography was unremarkable. Brain biopsy revealed thickened and hyalinized small vessels, with intramural infiltration of inflammatory cells, which confirmed the diagnosis of small-vessel PACNS. Because the patient developed surgical site infection following biopsy, the administration of monthly IVIG (2 g/kg) was prescribed, instead of immunosuppressive agents. After IVIG therapy, the patient remained stable, except for a single episode of mild radiological exacerbation at 16 months, which occurred when the IVIG interval was expanded. Oral prednisone was added and gradually tapered. At 50 months, his intellectual abilities and motor functions were normal, although he showed residual upper-left homonymous quadrantanopia and post-exercise headache. A temporary headache, associated with the immunoglobulin infusion, was resolved by slowing the infusion rate. PACNS should be treated aggressively to improve prognosis. However, when immunosuppressants are contraindicated, IVIG may be an alternative therapeutic option.     

Concurrent occurrence of allergic granulomatous angiitis and temporal arteritis: a case report and review of the literature

Allergic granulomatous angiitis (AGA) is a disease entity that was first distinguished from classical polyarteritis nodosa by Churg and Strauss in 1951, and is characterized by the clinical features of allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma, eosinophilia, and vasculitis. Allergic granulomatous angiitis has been described to mainly involve small vessels. We herein describe a case of Churg–Strauss syndrome which demonstrated the clinical and laboratory findings supporting a diagnosis of AGA and was also associated with the clinical and pathological findings for temporal arteritis, which was characterized by eosinophil infiltration and granuloma formation of the temporal artery (middle-sized vessel).     

原发性中枢神经系统血管炎的高分辨率MRI表现

目的探讨HR-MRI对原发性中枢神经系统血管炎(PACNS)的诊断价值。方法分析24例PACNS患者的临床和MRI资料,分析HR-MRI影像学表现。结果在HR-MRI上24例PACNS患者中,存在43个病变,可见管壁环周增厚36个、管壁偏心性增厚7个。管壁内壁均光滑。外壁模糊38个、外壁清晰5个。33个病变可见管壁向心性增强,7个病变管壁偏心性增强,无强化3个。病变累及血管壁的长度中位长度为5.4 mm(范围3.0~7.8 mm),病变部位血管壁厚度的中位厚度为0.69 mm(范围0.52~0.85 mm)。结论高分辨率磁共振成像能够清晰显示受累血管的管壁环周增厚、内壁光滑和外壁模糊、血管壁向心性强化,对PACNS的鉴别诊断有很大的作用。     

病理确诊的原发性中枢神经系统血管炎8例分析

目的 总结原发性中枢神经系统血管炎(primary angiitis of central nervous system,PACNS)8例的临床、影像和病理组织分型特点.方法 回顾性分析2008年1月至2015年5月海军总医院脑组织病理确诊的8例原发性中枢神经系统血管炎的患者临床资料、影像学和脑组织病理改变特点.结果 男和女各4例,发病年龄24～58岁.首发症状:头痛2例、头晕2例、肢体活动不利1例、眼球突出1例、视物模糊并复视1例、睡眠增多1例.后续主要症状:头痛4例、肢体活动不利4例、认知功能减退2例、癫痫发作2例、意识障碍2例、视物不全1例.头颅MRI检查8例(单侧病灶5例,双侧病灶3例).病灶分布:额叶3例、顶叶3例、颞叶3例、岛叶3例、小脑2例、胼胝体1例、丘脑1例、颈髓1例、脑膜1例、枕叶1例.增强MRI检查7例(不均匀强化6例,均匀强化1例).DWI检查3例(高信号3例);头颅MRA检查3例无异常,头颅DSA检查3例无异常.病理检查8例(立体定向脑活检7例,开颅手术1例),病理分型淋巴细胞型血管炎6例,肉芽肿型血管炎和坏死型血管炎各1例.结论 PACNS临床表现和影像学检查多无特异性,确诊需进行脑组织病理检查,淋巴细胞型血管炎是国内常见的病理类型.     

中枢神经系统血管炎与头痛

累及中枢神经系统的血管炎被称为中枢神经系统血管炎。头痛是中枢神经系统血管炎 的非特异表现之一,也是其中最常见的神经系统症状。目前按照2012年Chapel Hill会议（Chapel Hill consensus conference,CHCC）血管炎分类标准将血管炎按照受累血管大小不同进行分类。血管炎所致头 痛的发病机制不明,血脑屏障及神经血管单元的破坏在血管炎头痛中可能起到重要作用。不同类型 血管炎累及中枢神经系统的发生率以及头痛的发生时机和特点有差异。识别血管炎相关的头痛,并快 速进行诊断至关重要,以免进行不必要的治疗或导致严重神经系统后遗症。