title: [Vasculitis of the nervous system in infectious diseases].
abstract: Vasculitis and vasculopathies of the central and peripheral nervous system can be caused by infectious diseases. Vasculitis can lead to stenosis, occlusion and aneurysm formation of blood vessels which may result in stroke or cerebral haemorrhage. In cases of peripheral nervous system involvement mononeuritis multiplex and symmetric peripheral neuropathy are possible. The diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, serology, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and neuroradiologic examinations. In cases of peripheral neuropathy neurophysiologic examinations and biopsy of the sural nerve can lead to the diagnosis. A fast and efficient antimicrobial therapy is the most important treatment option. In cases of peripheral neuropathies short-term treatment with corticosteroids and plasma exchange may be helpful.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, Heidelberg, Germany. christian.jacobi@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacobi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenhard
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meyding-Lamadé
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents