[A case of what was regarded as isolated benign cerebral vasculitis]

A 55-year-old man came to us with dysarthria and right hemiparesis. The cerebral angiography showed segmental narrowing and irregularity of the left anterior cerebral artery. The patient responded well to corticosteroid therapy and there was later angiographic evidence of healing. After systemic angiitis and central nervous system infection were excluded, the diagnosis of isolated benign cerebral vasculitis was made. According to past reports, at least 13 patients have been described as having isolated benign cerebral vasculitis. The common features of isolated benign cerebral vasculitis are as follows: 1) benign evolution, 2) sensitiveness to corticosteroids, 3) absence or minimal change of CSF findings, 4) angiographic pattern of arteritis, 5) the most common symptom is headache. We suggest that early corticosteroid therapy is necessary in any case of cerebral vasculitis.