An external cause for 'idiopathic' pachymeningitis?
In a 67-year-old man with a history of professional asbestos exposure and persistent headaches since one year, a diagnosis of idiopathic pachymeningitis was made. IHCP (idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis) is in literature referred to as one of the presentations of Multifocal Idiopathic Fibrosclerosis or MIF, representing a group of fibro-inflammatory and pathologically similar diseases, including also retroperitoneal fibrosis, mediastinal fibrosis and sclerosing cholangitis. Since recent literature links asbestos exposure to a risk of development of retroperitoneal fibrosis, the present case suggests to focus in future research of IHCP on possible external causes.
Vermeirsch
K
K
Departments of Rheumatology, Neurology and Pathology, University Hospital K.U. Leuven.
Dubois
B
B
Sciot
R
R
Westhovens
R
R
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology