Rapidly progressive dementia due to leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the central nervous system

BMJ Case Rep. 2011 Sep 28:2011:bcr0820114619. doi: 10.1136/bcr.08.2011.4619.

Abstract

A 70-year-old male was admitted with a 2-week progressive course of severe cognitive impairment, scoring three on the Mini Mental State Examination. MRI of the brain showed confluent hyperintense areas in T2/FLAIR in the periventricular and subcortical white matter, extending to right parietal cortex and basal ganglia. Intra-arterial angiography was unremarkable. A targeted stereotactic brain biopsy disclosed a leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient improved on steroids. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis adds to the spectrum of histopathologic subtypes of primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Dementia / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / drug therapy*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / pathology

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisone