[A case of multiple cerebral hemorrhage related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy]

A case of multiple cerebral hemorrhage in the bilateral parietal lobes related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is reported. A 66-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of headache and vomiting on Feb. 21, 1983. He had no history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, recent head injury, or dementia. Four days prior to admission, he had behaved as if he were blind, but, had denied any blindness. On examination, he was confused and disoriented. Blood pressure was 130/80 mmHg. Abnormal findings on neurological examination included memory disturbance, apraxia for dressing, right-left disorientation, finger agnosia and Balint's syndrome. A CT scan showed multiple subcortical hematomas in the bilateral parietal lobes. Intracerebral hemorrhage related to CAA was suspected. Confirmation of the presence of amyloid in the cerebral vessels was established by examination of brain biopsy specimens. The characteristics of cerebral hemorrhage related to CAA are as follow--occurrence in elderly, sometimes demented people; localization to the cortex and subcortical white matter, with direct extension into the subarachnoid space; frequent multiple occurrence in time and/or at several sites within the cerebral hemispheres; sometimes occurrence after operative procedures or head injuries. A specific diagnosis of CAA can only be made by histological examination, but the indication of brain biopsy should be carefully decided because of hemostatic difficulty and tendency to rebleed. In conclusion, CAA should be considered as a cause of hemorrhage in elderly patients who are often normotensive and demented.