Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Three unusual mimics of primary angiitis of the central nervous system

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Rheumatology International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To present three rare mimics of primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS). We describe 3 patients with rare diseases that can mimic PACNS at clinical presentation and neuroimaging. We describe the clinical course of these patients and also present a review of the literature regarding these three diagnoses. All 3 patients presented with neurological symptoms and had abnormal findings on neuroimaging suggestive of PACNS. After detailed history, careful review of systems, thorough laboratory workup and consideration of lack of a response to immunosuppressive therapy, PACNS was ruled out with identification of an alternative diagnosis. PACNS is a rare disease and a diagnostic challenge with many differentials. A thorough investigation and awareness of unusual disorders is critical in avoiding misdiagnosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alrawi A, Trobe JD, Blaivas M, Musch DC (1999) Brain biopsy in primary angiitis of the central nervous system. Neurology 53(4):858–860

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Birnbaum J, Hellmann DB (2009) Primary angiitis of the central nervous system. Arch Neurol 66(6):704–709

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Miller DV, Salvarani C, Hunder GG, Brown RD, Parisi JE, Christianson TJ et al (2009) Biopsy findings in primary angiitis of the central nervous system. Am J Surg Pathol 33(1):35–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hajj-Ali RA, Calabrese LH (2009) Central nervous system vasculitis. Curr Opin Rheumatol 21(1):10–18

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Calabrese LH, Duna GF, Lie JT (1997) Vasculitis in the central nervous system. Arthritis Rheum 40(7):1189–1201

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Calabrese LH, Mallek JA (1988) Primary angiitis of the central nervous system. Report of 8 new cases, review of the literature, and proposal for diagnostic criteria. Medicine (Baltimore) 67(1):20–39

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lie JT (1992) Primary (granulomatous) angiitis of the central nervous system: a clinicopathologic analysis of 15 new cases and a review of the literature. Hum Pathol 23(2):164–171

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Degos R (1979) Malignant atrophic papulosis. Br J Dermatol 100(1):21–35

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Scheinfeld N (2007) Malignant atrophic papulosis. Clin Exp Dermatol 32(5):483–487

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Subbiah P, Wijdicks E, Muenter M, Carter J, Connolly S (1996) Skin lesion with a fatal neurologic outcome (Degos’ disease). Neurology 46(3):636–640

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Chung HY, Trendell-Smith NJ, Yeung CK, Mok MY (2009) Degos’ disease: a rare condition simulating rheumatic diseases. Clin Rheumatol 28(7):861–863

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kanekura T, Uchino Y, Kanzaki T (2003) A case of malignant atrophic papulosis successfully treated with nicotine patches. Br J Dermatol 149(3):660–662

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhu KJ, Zhou Q, Lin AH, Lu ZM, Cheng H (2007) The use of intravenous immunoglobulin in cutaneous and recurrent perforating intestinal Degos disease (malignant atrophic papulosis). Br J Dermatol 157(1):206–207

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Timmermans M, Carr J (2004) Neurosyphilis in the modern era. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 75(12):1727–1730

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kakumani PL, Hajj-Ali RA (2009) A forgotten cause of central nervous system vasculitis. J Rheumatol 36(3):655

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hart G (1986) Syphilis tests in diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. Ann Intern Med 104(3):368–376

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Marra CM (2009) Update on neurosyphilis. Curr Infect Dis Rep 11(2):127–134

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Richards A, Van den Maagdenberg Arn MJM, Jen J et al (2007) C-terminal truncations in human 3'-5' exonuclease TREX1 cause autosominal dominant retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy. Nature 39:1068–1070

  19. Terwindt GM, Haan J et al (1998) Clinical and genetic analysis of a large Dutch family with autosomal dominant vascular retinopathy, migraine and Raynaud's phenomenon. Brain 121:303–316

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ophoff RA, DeYoung J et al (2001) Hereditary vascular retinopathy, cerebroretinal vasculopathy, and hereditary endotheliopathy with retinopathy, nephropathy and stroke map to a single locus on chromosome 3p21.1-p21.3. Am J Hum Genet. 69:447–453

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anupama Shahane.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shahane, A., Khasnis, A. & Hajj Ali, R. Three unusual mimics of primary angiitis of the central nervous system. Rheumatol Int 32, 737–742 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1679-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-010-1679-8

Keywords

Navigation