[Cerebral angiitis and Goodpasture's syndrome]

Abstract

Goodpasture's syndrome is a form of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with pulmonary hemorrhage in the presence of antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies. Concomittant central nervous system manifestations are exceptionally reported. We report such a case of an 55-year-old woman who developed fluctuant neurobehavioral manifestations over a 9 months period. Angiography showed cerebral arterial distal lesions compatible with the diagnosis of angiitis. The antiglomerular basement membrane antibody titer was elevated. Search for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody was negative. After the reintroduction of cyclophosphamide agent, clinical evolution was favourable. Clinical cerebral manifestations in our case are probably du to a angiitis. Few cases are reported in the literature. The role of antiglomerular basement membrane antibody in the development of the cerebral angiitis is possible.