title: Systemic vasculitis positive for circulating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and with predominantly neurological presentation.
abstract: A 57-year-old male patient suffering from dramatically deteriorating diffuse and focal central nervous system symptoms was admitted to hospital after a short prodromal period in a somnolent state. He was diagnosed as having systemic vasculitis positive for circulating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, primarily involving the brain, but also most other organ systems. Circulating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are highly specific for Wegener granulomatosis, though they have been detected in rare cases of other vasculitic syndromes. Central nervous system lesions as presenting signs in Wegener granulomatosis have to be regarded as rare. This case nonetheless suggests that Wegener granulomatosis has to be considered in patients with a predominantly cerebral manifestation of a vasculitic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Tübingen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schnauder
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Overkamp
authors.forename: U W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grodd
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eggstein
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies