Hyperthyroidism-induced Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Presenting as Chronic Isolated Intracranial Hypertension.

A 38-year-old woman with untreated Graves' disease was admitted to our hospital because of headache and diplopia for 3 months. A neuro-ophthalmic examination showed bilateral papilledema and abducens nerve paralysis. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure was extremely high. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebral venous thrombosis in the superior sagittal and right transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels. The patient recovered after propylthiouracil and anticoagulation therapy. We herein report a rare case of cerebral venous thrombosis with hyperthyroidism presenting as chronic isolated intracranial hypertension. Hyperthyroidism can induce a hypercoagulable state and lead to venous thromboembolism.

Multiple brain infarctions and endomyocarditis in ANCA-negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a small vessel necrotizing vasculitis characterized by asthma and eosinophilia. Ischemic stroke is a rare complication of the disease. We herein report a case involving a 77-year-old woman with sinusitis who developed embolic stroke and splenic infarctions. Laboratory tests revealed hypereosinophilia and elevated troponin-T and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) studies were negative. Skin biopsy showed infiltration of eosinophils into the arterial walls. These clinicopathological findings led to the diagnosis of EGPA. We also found the evidence of endomyocarditis as revealed by multimodality cardiac imaging. The patient underwent continuous immunosuppressive and anticoagulation therapy, and the infarctions did not recur. This report highlights the importance of histologically proven vasculitis with eosinophil infiltration and careful examination for cardiac involvement, especially in ANCA-negative patients.

[A case of possible elderly onset rheumatoid meningitis without arthritis].

A 93-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with disturbance of consciousness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintensity of the subarachnoid space in the left frontal and parietal lobes on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). Gadolinium-enhancement of the pia mater was also observed. We did not perform biopsy because of a high risk of perioperative complication. Although physical examination found no evidence of the rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid factors and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies were elevated. He was suspected to have rheumatoid meningitis. We treated him with intravenous methylprednisolone (0.5 g/day) for 3 days. Rheumatoid meningitis often shows hyperintensity of the subarachnoid space on the DWI and FLAIR, and steroid therapy is effective.