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Histologically confirmed case of cerebral vasculitis associated with Crohn's disease--a case report
Masayuki Gekka1, Taku Sugiyama2, Masafumi Nomura3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Teine Keijinkai Medical Center, 1-40 Maeda 1-12, Teine-Ku, Sapporo, 006-8555, Japan. m.gekka@live.jp.
Insights
This case highlights rare cerebral vasculitis in Crohn's disease (CD). Prompt treatment of inflammation improved both neurological symptoms and CD activity, demonstrating a critical link.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Crohn's disease (CD) commonly presents with extraintestinal manifestations.
- Neurological complications of CD are rare, with few histologically confirmed cases of cerebral vasculitis.
Observation:
- A patient with refractory CD developed fever, worsening CD symptoms, and Gerstmann's syndrome.
- MRI and angiography revealed cerebral artery and venous occlusions; biopsy confirmed cerebral vasculitis.
- Treatment with high-dose prednisolone alongside existing CD therapies led to rapid improvement.
Findings:
- Histologically confirmed cerebral vasculitis significantly improved with immunosuppressive therapy.
- Neurological status and CD activity improved concurrently, with reduced brain lesions on follow-up MRI.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering cerebral vasculitis in CD patients with neurological symptoms.
- Effective management of inflammation is crucial for both neurological recovery and control of Crohn's disease activity.
Background:
Extraintestinal manifestations in Crohn's disease (CD) are frequent and well recognized. However, neurological involvement secondary to CD is rare, and there have been few histologically confirmed cases of cerebral vasculitis secondary to CD.
Case Presentation:
A 58-year-old left-handed man with a history of refractory CD who had fever of over 38 °C, progression of CD symptoms, and Gerstmann's syndrome consulted our hospital. Laboratory data showed elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) and hypoproteinemia. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right parietal high-intensity lesion. Catheter angiography showed segmental multiple narrowing and occlusion in the distal part of the middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery. Angiography also revealed multiple venous occlusions in the affected parietal area. To confirm the diagnosis, the patient underwent open biopsy, and histological examination revealed cerebral vasculitis. The patient was then started on high-dose prednisolone (60 mg/day) in addition to his previous therapy, which included mesalazine, adalimumab, and azathioprine. CRP elevation, hypoproteinemia, and gastrointestinal symptoms immediately improved after starting this treatment. Neurological status improved simultaneously with CD symptom improvement, and follow-up brain MRI revealed a reduction in the size of the right parietal lobe lesion. He returned to normal status and was discharged from our hospital 5 weeks after admission.
Conclusion:
This is an important case of histologically confirmed cerebral vasculitis associated with CD. The clinical course of our case clearly illustrates the relevance of the occurrence of cerebral vasculitis and the exacerbation of CD.
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