Cerebral Microhemorrhages and Meningeal Siderosis in Infective Endocarditis

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Malhotra ◽  
Joseph Schindler ◽  
Brian Mac Grory ◽  
Stacy Y. Chu ◽  
Teddy S. Youn ◽  
...  

Objective: Patients with infective endocarditis (IE) frequently experience cerebral insults, and neurological involvement in IE has been reported to herald a worse prognosis. In this manuscript, we describe a distinctive pattern of findings on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequences in subjects with IE. Methods: Patients with IE who underwent SWI MRI at an academic hospital from 2009 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The pattern of findings was compared to SWI findings in groups of subjects with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) or severe hypertension. Results: Sixty-six subjects with IE were included; 64 (94%) had microhemorrhages and the average number per patient was 21.5. In 11 (17%) patients, microhemorrhages were the only neuroimaging abnormality. The majority of microhemorrhages were between 1 and 3 mm. In a direct comparison of gradient-echo T2* (GRE-T2*) and SWI, many microhemorrhages in this size range were not detected by GRE-T2*. Microhemorrhages in IE involved every part of the brain with a significant predilection for the cerebellum. This pattern was distinct from that seen in hypertension or CAA. Small subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningeal siderosis were also frequently detected in IE, but were not associated with mycotic aneurysms. Interpretation: SWI is a sensitive diagnostic technique for detecting infectious cerebral angiopathy in subjects with IE, producing a pattern of microhemorrhages that were distinct from other common microangiopathies.

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Kagawa ◽  
Kazuhiro Hashimoto ◽  
Yoshimasa Sakamoto ◽  
Hiroshi Okuyama ◽  
Shinichi Ishii ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
S.G. Weeks ◽  
C.J. Doig ◽  
C. Silva ◽  
R.N. Auer ◽  
C. Power ◽  
...  

Background:Infective endocarditis is associated with serious neurological sequelae.Objective:Here, we report a patient with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, secondary to congenital heart disease, with subacute onset of multiple neurological complications.Results:Despite prompt antibiotic treatment with rapid sterilization of blood cultures, the patient died with brain herniation within 96 hours of admission. Neuropathological examination showed intraparenchymal hemorrhages, mycotic aneurysms, micro-abscesses and septic arteritis with accompanying infarction. Immunocytochemical studies revealed enhanced CD45 and GFAP immunoreactivity, together with adenosine A1 receptor detection on macrophages and microglia.Conclusion:Infective endocarditis is associated with multiple neuropathological lesions, which may contribute to its poor clinical outcome and activation of cells of monocyte-microglial lineage throughout the brain.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 743-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kresimir Ukalovic ◽  
Sijia Cao ◽  
Sieun Lee ◽  
Qiaoyue Tang ◽  
Mirza Faisal Beg ◽  
...  

Background: Recent work on Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis focuses on neuroimaging modalities; however, these methods are expensive, invasive, and not available to all patients. Ocular imaging of biomarkers, such as drusen in the peripheral retina, could provide an alternative method to diagnose AD. Objective: This study compares macular and peripheral drusen load in control and AD eyes. Methods: Postmortem eye tissues were obtained from donors with a neuropathological diagnosis of AD. Retina from normal donors were processed and categorized into younger (<55 years) and older (>55 years) groups. After fixation and dissection, 3-6 mm punches of RPE/choroid were taken in macular and peripheral (temporal, superior, and inferior) retinal regions. Oil red O positive drusen were counted and grouped into two size categories: small (<63 μm) and intermediate (63-125 μm). Results: There was a significant increase in the total number of macular and peripheral hard drusen in older, compared to younger, normal eyes (p<0.05). Intermediate hard drusen were more commonly found in the temporal region of AD eyes compared to older normal eyes, even after controlling for age (p<0.05). Among the brain and eye tissues from AD donors, there was a significant relationship between cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) severity and number of temporal intermediate hard drusen (r=0.78, p<0.05). Conclusion: Imaging temporal drusen in the eye may have benefit for diagnosing and monitoring progression of AD. Our results on CAA severity and temporal intermediate drusen in the AD eye are novel. Future studies are needed to further understand the interactions among CAA and drusen formation.


Author(s):  
Nidhi Tiwari ◽  
Jyoti Upadhyay ◽  
Mohd Nazam Ansari ◽  
Syed Shadab Raza ◽  
Wasim Ahmad ◽  
...  

: Vascular dementia (VaD) occurs due to cerebrovascular insufficiency, which leads to decreased blood circulation to the brain, thereby resulting in mental disabilities. The main causes of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) are severe hypoperfusion, stroke, hypertension, large vessel disease (cortical), small vessel disease (subcortical VaD), strategic infarct, hemorrhage (microbleed), cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA),which leads to decreased cerebrovascular perfusion. Many metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia are also related to VaD. The rodent experimental models provide a better prospective for the investigation of the molecular mechanism of new drugs. A plethora of experimental models are available that mimic the pathological conditions and lead to VaD. This review article updates the current knowledge on the basis of VaD, risk factors, pathophysiology, mechanism, advantages, limitations, and the modification of various available rodent experimental models.


BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Hyuk Oh ◽  
Jin San Lee

Abstract Background Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small, rounded, dark-signal lesions on brain MRI that represent cerebral hemosiderin deposits resulting from prior microhemorrhages and are neuroimaging biomarkers of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Here, we report a case of innumerable CMBs in a patient with hepatic encephalopathy underlying decompensated liver cirrhosis. Case presentation An 83-year-old woman diagnosed with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis 40 years before was referred to our neurology clinic for progressive disorientation of time and place, personality changes, and confusion with somnolence over 2 weeks. Based on the laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings, we diagnosed the patient with hepatic encephalopathy, and her symptoms recovered within 12 h after proper medical management. Brain MRI showed innumerable CMBs in the bilateral frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Since the distribution of CMBs in the patient was mainly corticosubcortical and predominantly in the posterior cortical regions, and the apolipoprotein E genotype was ε4/ε4, we speculated that CAA and hepatic encephalopathy coexisted in this patient. Conclusions We suggest that severe liver dysfunction associated with long-term decompensated liver cirrhosis may be related to an increased number of CMBs in the brain. Our findings indicate that decompensated liver cirrhosis may be a risk factor for the development of CMBs and corroborate a link between the liver and the brain.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet A Topcuoglu ◽  
Oguzhan Kursun ◽  
Ferdinando S Buonanno ◽  
Aneesh B Singhal

Introduction: Intracranial mycotic aneurysms (IMA) are rare but serious complications of infective endocarditis (IE). Methods and Results: In this retrospective study (1980-2011) we used original Duke criteria to diagnose IE in 1149 episodes (1081 patients; 81% definite, 80% native valve). Neuro complications occurred in 28%, stroke in 22% (202 infarcts, 53 hemorrhages) and 1% had TIA/TMB. N=33 IMA were detected in 23 (2%) patients. IMA were detected in 8% with focal neuro deficits, 13% with seizures, and 3% with encephalopathy. IMA-related symptoms were present in 22 of 23 cases: headache 48%, seizure 13%, altered sensorium 35% and focal deficits 61%. IMA were detected in 0/885 without stroke, 5.4% with infarcts and 22.6% with hemorrhages (p<0.001); the latter included 9/36 (25%) with ICH, 3/13 (23%) with SAH, and 0/4 with SDH. Of the 23 IMA patients 61% had hemorrhage, 30% had SAH and 57% had infarcts. IMAs were detected by DSA in 21/166 (12.7%). The mean size was 3.6±2.4 mm; 30% multiple; 61% located in distal segments; and 67% in MCA branches. On MRI, 31 had any SAH and 45 had any ICH; IMA detected in 6/9 with diffuse SAH, 2/22 with convexal SAH, 11/45 with ICH, and 11/202 with infarcts. Patients with IMA had higher rates of women, hypertension, known cardiac valve disease, mitral regurgitation, mitral vegetation and S.viridians infection (all p<0.05). On multivariable analysis, mitral regurgitation with vegetation (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.5-14.0, p<0.001) was the only independent predictor of IMA. Clipping was performed in 8 (all pre-2000); endovascular treatment in 7 (all post-1997); 2 died pre- treatment; 1 detected on autopsy; 1 no follow-up available, and 4 regressed/disappeared with antibiotics. Patients with and without IMA showed no difference in rates of in-hospital mortality (22% v. 19%, p=0.93), and length of stay (32d v. 24d, p=0.28). IMA rates did not decrease during the study period (2.2% in 784 episodes 1980-2000 vs. 1.6% of 365 episodes 2001-2011, p=0.653). Conclusion: IMA are invariably heralded by neurological symptoms and stroke (especially hemorrhages) on brain imaging. Mitral IE has the highest risk for IMA. IMAs can resolve with antibiotics however studies are needed to determine the efficacy of different treatment approaches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e241401
Author(s):  
Sayonee Das ◽  
Sidhartha Chattopadhyay ◽  
Kausik Munsi ◽  
Sagar Basu

This is a rare presentation of scrub typhus with cerebral venous thrombosis. A 32-year-old woman presented with signs of raised intracranial tension. Examination revealed maculopapular skin rashes and an ‘eschar’ over the right thigh. Nuchal rigidity and bilateral papilloedema were found. Scrub typhus was diagnosed by the presence of IgM antibody in serum. CT scan of the brain showed cerebral oedema. MRI of the brain was normal. Magnetic resonance venography of the brain showed thrombosis of several venous sinuses. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis with raised protein level. Other causes of prothrombotic states were ruled out by doing specific test results. There was no history of hormonal contraception and prolonged bed rest. A case of scrub typhus complicated with meningoencephalitis and cerebral venous thrombosis was diagnosed. She responded to treatment with doxycycline, anticoagulants, antipyrectics and intravenous saline. Early identification of such atypical neurological involvement in scrub typhus was helpful in satisfactory outcome.


Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar ◽  
Seetha Harilal ◽  
Sabitha M ◽  
Leena K Pappachan ◽  
P R Roshni ◽  
...  

: SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus and the causative organism of Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc worldwide producing asymptomatic to symptomatic cases leading to significant morbidity and mortality even after infection. Most of the countries reported a mortality rate of 2-3 % majorly due to cardiorespiratory failures. Recent studies highlighted the neurological involvement playing a key role in cardiorespiratory failures and other symptoms such as headache, anosmia, and ageusia observed in Covid-19 patients. Studies suggests SARS-CoV-2 entry via olfactory epithelium (OE) and the expression of type 2 transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) in addition to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) can facilitate SARS-CoV-2 neurotropism. The virus can either travel via peripheral blood vessel causing endothelial dysfunction, triggering coagulation cascade and multiple organ dysfunction or reach the systemic circulation and take a different route to the blood brain barrier (BBB), disrupting the BBB causing neuroinflammation or neuronal excitotoxicity resulting in the development of encephalitis, encephalopathy, seizures, and strokes. SARS-CoV-2 invasion on brain stem is believed to be responsible for the cardiorespiratory failures observed in Covid-19 patients. Apart from viral invasion via hematogenous route, SARS-CoV-2 neural invasion via PNS nerve terminal, resulting in viral replication and retrograde transportation to soma leading to invasion of the CNS including the brain producing neurological manifestations of the disease either in the initial stages or during the course of the disease and even in a long period post infection in many cases. The ACE2 receptors are expressed in the brain and glial cells and SARS-CoV-2 acts via neuronal as well as non-neuronal pathway. But the exact cell types involved and how they can trigger inflammatory pathways need further in-depth study for the development of targeted therapy.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Min Cho ◽  
Robert Marquardt ◽  
Lucy Zhang ◽  
Prateek Thatikunta ◽  
Ken Uchino ◽  
...  

Introduction: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is common in infective endocarditis (IE). We explored the imaging characteristics, predictors, and clinical implications of ICHs including intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and, subdural hematoma (SDH). Methods: We reviewed records of 116 consecutive acute IE patients by Duke’s criteria with neurological consultation or admission to stroke neurology service in a single tertiary referral center from January 2015 to July 2016. ICHs were defined as IPH, SAH, or SDH seen on CT. Microhemorrhages were identified on susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) on MRI. Patient’s radiographic characteristics and complications were collected. Results: Of 116 patients, 25 persons (21.6%, median age 58) had ICHs, 14 with IPHs, 7 with SAHs, 3 with both IPH and SAH, and 1 SDH. Of 17 (14.7%) IPHs (median NIH Stroke Scale 6 and median volume 38.6cc), 10 (8.6%) IPHs were symptomatic and 7 IPHs were silent. Eleven persons (65%) with IPH also had ischemic strokes. Mycotic aneurysms were identified only in 1 (4.8%) in 21 persons with ICH who underwent cerebral angiogram. MRIs identified 66 persons with microhemorrhages (56.9%, median age 58.5) among 85 who underwent MRI. Eighteen (72%) of 25 persons with ICHs had microhemorrhages in SWI. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, ICH was associated with the presence of >5 microhemorrhages (odds ratio [OR]: 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.50) and staphylococcus aureus (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03-1.51). Ten persons (40%) with ICH died (7 with IPH and 4 with SAH) in the same hospitalization. Thirteen persons (52%) with ICH (median 21.4cc in 9 IPHs) underwent valve replacement at median of 13.5 days and 2 persons had new non-fatal strokes (1 IPH and 1 ischemic stroke). Conclusions: Intracranial macro- or micro-hemorrhages are seen in 73 (63%) persons with IE. The mortality of intracranial hemorrhage is high but the perioperative stroke risk appears low.


2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001055
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ridha ◽  
Yasmin Aziz ◽  
Joseph Broderick

A 67-year-old man was referred from ophthalmology for possible cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) discovered during work-up of possible optic neuropathy. MRI (figure 1) demonstrated innumerable periventricular, brainstem, and cortical cerebral microhemorrhages (CMH). Scattered, non-specific white matter hyperintensities was seen on T2-weighted imaging without surrounding hypointense rim. He had no hypertension, and the distribution was uncharacteristic for CAA. Despite absent family history of stroke or seizure, testing for familial cerebral cavernous malformation (FCCM) identified a pathogenic mutation of KRIT1 (c.382G>T).


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