[A subacute dementia: Inflammatory cerebral amyloid angiopathy]

Abstract

We report a case of inflammatory cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) that led to rapid cognitive decline, seizures, visual hallucinations, hyperproteinorrachia and right hemispheric leukopathy. Brain biopsy gave the diagnosis of CAA. Although no inflammatory infiltrate was found in the biopsy sample, corticosteroids led to a regression of the radiological lesions without significant clinical improvement. CAA is a rare disease, defined by lesions of classical cerebral amyloid angiopathy and perivascular infiltrates in contact with the affected vessels. In cases of rapidly progressive dementia associated with leukopathy, inflammatory amyloid angiopathy should be considered as cognitive disorders may improve after immunosuppressive therapy.

Keywords: Angiopathie amyloïde cérébrale; Cerebral amyloid angiopathy; Dementia; Démence; Inflammation; Leucopathie; Leukopathy.