Blood-brain barrier breakdown as a novel mechanism underlying cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome.
Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) may occur as a severe complication following surgical treatment of carotid stenosis. However, the mechanism inducing neurological symptoms in CHS remains unknown. We describe a patient with CHS presenting with seizures 24 h following carotid endarterectomy. Imaging demonstrated early ipsilateral blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown with electroencephalographic evidence of cortical dysfunction preceding brain edema. Using in vitro experiments on rat cortical tissue, we show that direct exposure of isolated brain slices to a serum-like medium induces spontaneous epileptiform activity, and that neuronal dysfunction is triggered by albumin. We propose BBB breakdown and subsequent albumin extravasation as a novel pathogenic mechanism underlying CHS and a potential target for therapy.
Ivens
Sebastian
S
Institute of Neurophysiology, Neurocure Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
Gabriel
Szendro
S
Greenberg
George
G
Friedman
Alon
A
Shelef
Ilan
I
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019579:Neocortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors