Late-developing cerebral arteropathy after pyogenic meningitis.
BACKGROUND
Although vasculopathy is a recognized complication during acute meningitis, to our knowledge, no previous reports have been published of this phenomenon developing months after successful treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To report a unique case of a late-developing vasculopathy after pyogenic meningitis in an adult.


METHODS
A 51-year-old woman was seen with severe headache 2 months after treatment of Haemophilus influenzae type C meningitis. Initial arteriography showed no abnormality; a second arteriogram showed progressive multifocal intracranial stenosis affecting mainly the internal carotid arteries. Findings from pathologic examination disclosed diffuse collagenosis consistent with chronic vascular injury from meningitis. The arterial lesions stabilized, and the patient remained asymptomatic.


CONCLUSIONS
Progressive intracranial arterial stenosis can evolve months after meningitis and should be added to the list of recognized vascular complications.
Palacio
Santiago
S
Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA.
Hart
Robert G
RG
Vollmer
Dennis G
DG
Kagan-Hallet
Kathleen
K
D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*