Multiple Cerebral Infarctions Accompanied by Subcortical and Subarachnoid Hemorrhaging in Bilateral Border Zone Areas in a Patient with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Intern Med. 2022 Mar 15;61(6):891-895. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.7999-21. Epub 2021 Sep 4.

Abstract

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is often associated with peripheral neuropathy, but reports of central nervous system involvement are quite rare. We herein report a patient with EGPA first identified as having hypereosinophilia who later developed asthma, eosinophilic otitis media, sinusitis, and hemorrhagic colitis. She subsequently developed hemiparesis. Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple cerebral infarctions with subcortical and subarachnoid hemorrhaging colocalized at the bilateral border zone areas. She was diagnosed with EGPA-induced stroke and successfully treated with oral prednisolone. Inflammation in the small cerebral arteries in EGPA may induce bilateral border zone infarction with colocalizing subcortical and subarachnoid hemorrhaging.

Keywords: EGPA; border zone infarction; eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; prednisolone; subarachnoid hemorrhaging; subcortical hemorrhaging.

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Infarction / complications
  • Cerebral Infarction / etiology
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome* / complications
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Eosinophilia* / complications
  • Eosinophilia* / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / complications
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / complications
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / diagnostic imaging