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[Recurrent aseptic meningitis associated with primary biliary cirrhosis]
1Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Pasteur, Nice.
Revue Neurologique
|January 29, 2005
Summary
Recurrent aseptic meningitis was diagnosed in a woman with primary biliary cirrhosis. This rare case highlights a link between autoimmune liver disease and meningitis due to an ear inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Hepatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Recurrent aseptic meningitis presents diagnostic challenges.
- Primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune liver disease.
Observation:
- A 37-year-old woman experienced four episodes of meningitis with fever, responsive to steroids.
- Imaging revealed a right tympano-labyrinthine fracture with internal auditory canal enhancement.
- Serological tests showed positive antimitochondria antibodies (AMA) subtype M2.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with recurrent puriform aseptic meningitis.
- The meningitis was secondary to a non-septic, inflammatory ear-nose-throat focus.
- A latent autoimmune context of primary biliary cirrhosis was identified.
Implications:
- This case suggests a potential association between primary biliary cirrhosis and recurrent aseptic meningitis.
- It underscores the importance of investigating ENT inflammatory foci in autoimmune patients with meningitis.
- This is the first reported instance linking these conditions.