title: Central nervous system vasculitis as a complication of refractory dermatomyositis.
abstract: We describe a 47-year-old woman with refractory dermatomyositis (DM) who developed progressive cognitive dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large cerebral infarction, and the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis was confirmed by both angiogram and brain biopsy. Her DM and CNS vasculitis responded promptly to the institution of daily cyclophosphamide, and her previously refractory disease entered remission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Vasculitis Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pomper
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide