Cerebral arteriopathy with extracranial artery involvement in a patient with ulcerative colitis

J Neurol Sci. 2006 Apr 15;243(1-2):87-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2005.11.004. Epub 2005 Dec 20.

Abstract

Arteriopathy of the central nervous system (CNS) complicated with ulcerative colitis is a rare condition, moreover the involvement of extracranial arteries has not been documented. An 18-year-old female complained of a severe pulsatile headache and nausea. She had been diagnosed and treated for ulcerative colitis for four years. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed normal results; however, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed severe irregularity of the intracerebral arteries. After treatment with prednisolone, the patient fully recovered and the irregularity of the intracerebral arteries was dramatically improved. Vasculitis was strongly suggested as the cause of arteriopathy of the CNS in the present case. Involvement of extracranial arteries such as the carotid artery was also incidentally discovered by duplex ultrasonography and the HLA typing suggested genetic susceptibility to Takayasu's arteritis. Findings from our patient suggest that extracranial arterial involvement should be considered in the case of arteriopathy of the CNS associated with ulcerative colitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / drug therapy
  • Carotid Artery, External / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery, External / pathology
  • Carotid Artery, External / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Cerebral Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Arteries / pathology*
  • Cerebral Arteries / physiopathology*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / complications*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • HLA Antigens / genetics
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Takayasu Arteritis / diagnosis
  • Takayasu Arteritis / drug therapy
  • Takayasu Arteritis / genetics
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / complications*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • HLA Antigens
  • Prednisolone