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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
09:14
Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model
Published on: June 18, 2021
Lethal subarachnoid bleeding under immunosuppressive therapy due to mycotic arteritis
Stefanie Weigel1, Stephan Kloska, Hans Gerd Kehl
1Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48149 Münster, Germany. weigels@uni-muenster.de
European Radiology
|January 28, 2006
Summary
A rare case of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a pediatric cardiac transplant recipient was caused by fungal arteritis. This mycotic arteritis, linked to Aspergillus infection, led to a fatal outcome despite extensive imaging.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- A 10-year-old girl underwent cardiac transplantation and received immunosuppressive therapy.
- She later developed arterial hypertension, severe headaches, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis.
- CT scans revealed an infarct in the left thalamus preceding the fatal event.
Observation:
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurred 67 days post-transplantation.
- Neither digital subtraction angiography (DSA) nor computed tomographic angiography identified intracranial vascular malformations.
- The patient presented with symptoms suggestive of neurological compromise.
Findings:
- Pathological examination confirmed the rare diagnosis of SAH due to aspergillosis-related mycotic arteritis.
- The fungal infection targeted the cerebral arteries, leading to inflammation and rupture.
- This highlights a severe, albeit uncommon, complication of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.
Implications:
- Mycotic arteritis should be considered in immunocompromised patients, especially transplant recipients, presenting with neurological symptoms and SAH.
- Advanced imaging and prompt pathological diagnosis are crucial for identifying rare causes of SAH.
- This case underscores the importance of vigilance for opportunistic infections and their vascular complications in pediatric transplant patients.
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