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Published on: December 29, 2016
Noninflammatory cerebral vasculopathy associated with recurrent ischemic strokes.
James S McKinney1, Jonathan M Raser, Miguel A Guzman
1Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. mckinnjs@umdnj.edu
Summary
Recurrent strokes in young adults can stem from rare causes. A brain biopsy revealed abnormal perivascular collagen, suggesting a novel etiology for cryptogenic ischemic strokes when other tests fail.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Histopathology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Recurrent ischemic strokes in young adults frequently present diagnostic challenges.
- Identifying uncommon etiologies is crucial for effective management.
- Vascular abnormalities are a potential, though often elusive, cause.
Observation:
- A 36-year-old male presented with recurrent cryptogenic ischemic strokes.
- Standard diagnostic workup, including cerebral angiography, yielded no definitive cause.
- The patient's clinical course persisted despite established medical therapies.
Findings:
- Brain biopsy demonstrated a unique histopathological finding.
- The biopsy revealed abnormal perivascular collagen deposition.
- Notably, there was an absence of inflammatory cell infiltration.
Implications:
- This case highlights potentially novel etiologies for recurrent cryptogenic strokes.
- Brain biopsy can be a valuable diagnostic tool when conventional methods are insufficient.
- Abnormal collagen deposition may represent an underrecognized cause of cerebrovascular events.
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