TY - JOUR
T1 - Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation
T2 - An emerging disease
AU - Savoiardo, Mario
AU - Erbetta, A.
AU - Di Francesco, J. C.
AU - Brioschi, M.
AU - Silani, V.
AU - Falini, A.
AU - Storchi, G.
AU - Brighina, L.
AU - Ferrarese, C.
AU - Ticozzi, N.
AU - Messina, S.
AU - Girotti, F.
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Three elderly patients with, respectively: mild cognitive impairment, severe and progressive neurologic involvement, and focal neurologic deficit, were observed. MRI showed multiple areas of white matter edema, at times partially involving the cortex, in the first two patients, and a single area in the third. Treatment with steroids determined the disappearance of the lesions and clinical amelioration. The key to the diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) was the demonstration, with appropriate MRI sequences, of microbleeds consistent with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). This diagnosis was supported by genetic analysis of APOE with demonstration of ε4/ε4 genotype, found in about 80% of CAA patients who develop inflammatory changes. In the appropriate clinical setting, MRI demonstration of microbleeds supported by results of genetic analysis of APOE may strongly support the diagnosis of CAA-ri thus avoiding cerebral biopsy.
AB - Three elderly patients with, respectively: mild cognitive impairment, severe and progressive neurologic involvement, and focal neurologic deficit, were observed. MRI showed multiple areas of white matter edema, at times partially involving the cortex, in the first two patients, and a single area in the third. Treatment with steroids determined the disappearance of the lesions and clinical amelioration. The key to the diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) was the demonstration, with appropriate MRI sequences, of microbleeds consistent with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). This diagnosis was supported by genetic analysis of APOE with demonstration of ε4/ε4 genotype, found in about 80% of CAA patients who develop inflammatory changes. In the appropriate clinical setting, MRI demonstration of microbleeds supported by results of genetic analysis of APOE may strongly support the diagnosis of CAA-ri thus avoiding cerebral biopsy.
KW - Cerebral amyloid angiopathy
KW - Edema
KW - Inflammation
KW - Microhemorrhages
KW - MRI
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79958822300
VL - 24
SP - 253
EP - 257
JO - Neuroradiology Journal
JF - Neuroradiology Journal
SN - 1971-4009
IS - 2
ER -