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Published on: August 15, 2017
Successful electroconvulsive therapy for depression in a man with cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Geert Schurgers1, Baer M G Arts2,3, Alida A Postma3,4
1Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands geert.schurgers@mumc.nl.
Insights
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effectively treated severe depression in a 70-year-old man with probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). This case highlights potential safety considerations and impacts of ECT on amyloid beta clearance in CAA patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) involves amyloid beta protein (Aβ) deposition in cerebral blood vessels, increasing hemorrhage risk and cognitive decline.
- Severe depression is a common comorbidity in elderly patients, impacting quality of life and treatment decisions.
Observation:
- A 70-year-old male patient presented with probable CAA, diagnosed using modified Boston criteria.
- The patient also experienced severe depression, necessitating treatment intervention.
Findings:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was administered to treat the patient's severe depression.
- The depression showed a successful treatment response following ECT.
Implications:
- This is the first reported case of ECT use in a patient with CAA.
- Further research is warranted to explore ECT's safety, cognitive effects, and potential influence on Aβ clearance in CAA patients.
Abstract:
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a condition characterised by accumulation of amyloid beta protein (Aβ) in the wall of cerebral blood vessels which increases the risk of intracranial haemorrhage and contributes to cognitive impairment. We describe the case of a man around the age of 70 with 'probable' CAA according to the modified Boston criteria and severe depression whose depression was treated successfully with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). To the best of our knowledge, there are no earlier published reports of ECT in a patient with CAA. We briefly discuss possible safety measures for these patients, the impact of ECT on cognition in CAA and a possible influence of ECT on Aβ clearance.
