A case of cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Abstract

BACKGROUND; Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a condition characterized by amyloid deposition in the walls of leptomeningal and cerebral cortical blood vessels. Clinically, CAA results in recurrent lobar haemorrhage that frequently presents with cognitive impairment or recurrent cerebral ischaemic events. CAA is widely believed to b eunder-diagnosed.

Case report: An 84 year old patient presented with a history of recurrent unexplained collapses on a background of cognitive impairment. CT imaging of the brain demonstrated several lobar haemorrhages. In the absence of other causes of cerebral haemorrhage, the patient fulfilled the Boston diagnosis criteria for probable CAA.

Conclusions: CAA should be considered in patients with multiple lobar haemorrhages, especially in the presence of cognitive impairment, and in the absence of other causes of cerebral haemorrhage such as trauma, space occupying lesion or a coagulopathy. The diagnosis of CAA is an important one because of the likely implication it has on future management targeted to reducing the future risk of further bleeding.