[Uncommun and serious complication of pulmonary sarcoidosis: neurosarcoidosis]

ABSTRACT

The incidence of neurosarcoidosis is about 5 to 15% of sarcoidosis in most clinical or post-mortem series. Central nervous system involvement is extremely uncommon and more serious than peripheral nerves. We discribe a case of sarcoidosis with central nervous system involvement in a 61 old woman how developped pulmonary sarcoidosis. After 4 months of treatment with corticosteroids, the patient presented with headaches, episods of altered consiousness, cerebellous syndrome and right hemiparesis. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid was normal. CT scan and MRI examination of the head revealed mass like lesions in cerebellar region and periventricular white matter. A clinical diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis was made and treatment with Methylprednisone was recommended followed by immunosuppressive drug. 3 months after, symptoms had improved but the MRI showed the same mass lesions and the patient died after 12 months. Involvement of the central nervous system is an uncommon and serious complication of sarcoidosis, we should think about it in patients with neurological manifestations who developed a sarcoidosis