Low Amyloid-PET Uptake in Iowa-Type Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy with Cerebral Venous Thrombosis

J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;72(3):677-681. doi: 10.3233/JAD-190800.

Abstract

Hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathies (CAA) are rare disorders of early onset and severe course. We describe a 47-year-old patient with Iowa-type amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutation-related hereditary CAA that manifested with concomitant lobar hemorrhage and venous sinus thrombosis. To analyze the cerebral amyloid-β burden, an amyloid-PET was performed, demonstrating low cortical retention except for the calcarine cortex. High amyloid retention was also found in the thalamus and pallidum. The co-occurrence of CAA and venous thrombosis has not been previously reported in Iowa CAA and its mechanism is yet to be elucidated. Low cortical florbetapir-PET uptake does not rule out CAA in young patients, who may benefit from genetic testing to reach diagnosis when suspicion is strong.

Keywords: Amyloid PET; Iowa APP mutation; cerebral amyloid angiopathy; cerebral hemorrhage; cerebral venous thrombosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / genetics
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pedigree
  • Positron-Emission Tomography* / methods
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Venous Thrombosis / genetics
  • Venous Thrombosis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor