2021 Volume 33 Issue 3 Pages 325-331
A case of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), which was followed up for over 7 years, is presented. The case involved a female in her early 80s, who appeared to have CAA-related inflammation/angiitis based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed at her first visit. However, the MRI findings of CAA-related inflammation completely disappeared thereafter, and she remained clinically stable for a long time. After about 5 years, symptoms of subacute leukoencephalopathy, such as left-sided hemiplegia and disturbances of consciousness, appeared, and then shoulder-hand syndrome also developed in her left upper extremity. The natural course and pathology of CAA-related inflammation are discussed based on the patient’s clinical course and MRI findings. Once CAA-related inflammation occurs, it might persist in a state of chronic inflammation, even if the patient’s clinical symptoms remain stable and any inflammation seems to have been resolved. Furthermore, it is possible that shoulder-hand syndrome can be caused by CAA-related inflammatory leukoencephalopathy as well as cerebral infarctions.
