Steroid responsive encephalopathy in cerebral amyloid angiopathy: a case report and review of evidence for immunosuppressive treatment

J Neuroinflammation. 2010 Mar 9:7:18. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-7-18.

Abstract

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common but often asymptomatic disease, characterized by deposition of amyloid in cerebral blood vessels. We describe the successful treatment of CAA encephalopathy with dexamethasone in a patient with CAA-related inflammation causing subacute progressive encephalopathy and seizures, which is an increasingly recognized subtype of CAA. The two pathological subtypes of CAA-related inflammation are described and a review of the literature is performed concerning immunosuppressive treatment of CAA-related inflammation with special attention to its pathological subtypes. Immunosuppressive therapy appears to be an appropriate treatment for CAA encephalopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / complications*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / drug therapy*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Steroids / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Steroids