Eosinophilic meningitis caused by primary angiitis of the central nervous system

Intern Med. 2013;52(12):1393-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.52.9578.

Abstract

Eosinophilic meningitis is defined as the presence of 10 eosinophils/mm(3) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or eosinophils accounting for more than 10% of CSF leukocytes. A 76-year-old man who developed cognitive dysfunction and consciousness disturbance had eosinophilic meningitis (his CSF contained 19.0% eosinophils). Because the etiology was unknown, we performed a brain biopsy. The pathological findings showed inflammatory infiltration in the small-sized arteries of the meninges. The patient was ultimately diagnosed as having primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS). Eosinophilic meningitis occurring in a patient with PACNS is extremely rare, and this is the first report of this condition in Japan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Eosinophilia / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Eosinophilia / etiology*
  • Eosinophils
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningitis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Meningitis / diagnosis
  • Meningitis / etiology*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / complications*
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis

Supplementary concepts

  • Primary angiitis of the central nervous system