The Association Between Positive Amyloid-PET and Cognitive Decline Is Not Always Supportive of Alzheimer's Disease: Suggestions from a Case Report.

Amyloid-ß deposition is the pathological hallmark of both cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer's disease dementia, clinical conditions that can share cognitive decline and positive Amyloid-PET scan. A case is reported involving an 82-year-old Italian female who presented initially a memory deficit, later transient focal neurologic episodes, and finally two symptomatic lobar intracerebral hemorrhages. In light of these events, MRI and PET imaging findings, acquired before cerebral hemorrhages, are reconsidered and discussed, highlighting the utility of Amyloid-PET in supporting an in vivo diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

[Radiological forms of cerebral amyloid angiopathy]. / A cerebralis amyloid angiopathia radiológiai megjelenési formái.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is most commonly recognized by ß-amyloid deposition in the small and medium sized vessels of the brain. The 71-year-old female presented with a sudden onset of vertigo and headache. By native computer tomography (CT) examination we found cerebral atrophy and the sign of chronic vascular injury. The complaints of the patient worsened, thus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. The MRI scan revealed a bleeding transformation of an ischemic lesion in the right occipital region. On the susceptibility weighted scans we could observe old microbleedings, thus we suspected CAA. The patient later re-presented at the clinic with a sudden onset of right sided hemiplegia. We performed a native CT scan which identified cerebral hemorrhage in atypical position confirming our diagnosis. CAA has many radiological presentations. The most important is the lobar cerebral hemorrhage. On the susceptibility weighted MRI scans, we could identify the microbleeds and the superficial siderosis by the deposition of the hemosiderin. The subarachnoid hemorrhage is a sign of bad outcome. In the white matter, we could detect the change of the related inflammation and the leukoaraiosis. Further, two not specific abnormalities can be important as well, such as extended ischemic lesions and perivascular space dilatation. CAA has various appearances on MRI. Repeated vascular events and dementia in old age patients draw attention to its presence. The correct diagnosis can be made with the right interpretation of the patient's complaints in combination with the radiological abnormalities. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(11): 439-444.

Arterial stiffness in patients with deep and lobar intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for approximately 10% of stroke cases. Hypertension may play a role in the pathogenesis of ICH that occurs in the basal ganglia, thalamus, pons, and cerebellum, but not in that of lobar ICH. Hypertension contributes to decreased elasticity of arteries, thereby increasing the likelihood of rupture in response to acute elevation in intravascular pressure. This study aimed to evaluate arterial stiffness (using the arterial stiffness index [ASI]) in patients with deep (putaminal and thalamic) ICH in comparison with patients with lobar ICH. METHODS: We enrolled 64 patients (mean±SD age: 69.3±10.7 years; 47 men and 17 women) among 73 who referred consecutively to our department for intraparenchymal hemorrhage and underwent brain computed tomography (CT) and cerebral angio-CT. In all the subjects, 24-hour heart rates and blood pressures were monitored. The linear regression slope of diastolic on systolic blood pressure was assumed as a global measure of arterial compliance, and its complement (1 minus the slope), ASI, has been considered as a measure of arterial stiffness. RESULTS: In the patients with deep ICH, ASI was significantly higher than in the patients with lobar ICH (0.64±0.19 vs. 0.53±0.17, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in deep ICH, arterial stiffening represents a possible pathogenetic factor that modifies arterial wall properties and contributes to vascular rupture in response to intravascular pressure acute elevation. Therapeutic strategies that reduce arterial stiffness may potentially lower the incidence of deep hemorrhagic stroke.

Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Deep and Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for approximately 10% of stroke cases. Hypertension may play a role in the pathogenesis of ICH that occurs in the basal ganglia, thalamus, pons, and cerebellum, but not in that of lobar ICH. Hypertension contributes to decreased elasticity of arteries, thereby increasing the likelihood of rupture in response to acute elevation in intravascular pressure. This study aimed to evaluate arterial stiffness (using the arterial stiffness index [ASI]) in patients with deep (putaminal and thalamic) ICH in comparison with patients with lobar ICH. METHODS: We enrolled 64 patients (mean+/-SD age: 69.3+/-10.7 years; 47 men and 17 women) among 73 who referred consecutively to our department for intraparenchymal hemorrhage and underwent brain computed tomography (CT) and cerebral angio-CT. In all the subjects, 24-hour heart rates and blood pressures were monitored. The linear regression slope of diastolic on systolic blood pressure was assumed as a global measure of arterial compliance, and its complement (1 minus the slope), ASI, has been considered as a measure of arterial stiffness. RESULTS: In the patients with deep ICH, ASI was significantly higher than in the patients with lobar ICH (0.64+/-0.19 vs. 0.53+/-0.17, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in deep ICH, arterial stiffening represents a possible pathogenetic factor that modifies arterial wall properties and contributes to vascular rupture in response to intravascular pressure acute elevation. Therapeutic strategies that reduce arterial stiffness may potentially lower the incidence of deep hemorrhagic stroke.

Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Deep and Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for approximately 10% of stroke cases. Hypertension may play a role in the pathogenesis of ICH that occurs in the basal ganglia, thalamus, pons, and cerebellum, but not in that of lobar ICH. Hypertension contributes to decreased elasticity of arteries, thereby increasing the likelihood of rupture in response to acute elevation in intravascular pressure. This study aimed to evaluate arterial stiffness (using the arterial stiffness index [ASI]) in patients with deep (putaminal and thalamic) ICH in comparison with patients with lobar ICH. METHODS: We enrolled 64 patients (mean+/-SD age: 69.3+/-10.7 years; 47 men and 17 women) among 73 who referred consecutively to our department for intraparenchymal hemorrhage and underwent brain computed tomography (CT) and cerebral angio-CT. In all the subjects, 24-hour heart rates and blood pressures were monitored. The linear regression slope of diastolic on systolic blood pressure was assumed as a global measure of arterial compliance, and its complement (1 minus the slope), ASI, has been considered as a measure of arterial stiffness. RESULTS: In the patients with deep ICH, ASI was significantly higher than in the patients with lobar ICH (0.64+/-0.19 vs. 0.53+/-0.17, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in deep ICH, arterial stiffening represents a possible pathogenetic factor that modifies arterial wall properties and contributes to vascular rupture in response to intravascular pressure acute elevation. Therapeutic strategies that reduce arterial stiffness may potentially lower the incidence of deep hemorrhagic stroke.