Pediatric Inflammatory Diseases

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis can affect both adults and children, but some of these occur almost exclusively in childhood. In children may develop as a primary condition or secondary to an underlying systemic disease. Cerebral vasculitis can be classified on the basis of the diameter of the involved vessels, although there is no univocal consensus. The diagnosis of CNS vasculitis is particularly difficult because the available investigative modalities have limited sensitivities and specificities. The most helpful diagnostic tests include cerebrospinal fluid analysis, MRI (MR angiography/venography (MRA/MRV) of the brain, and angiography. However, brain biopsy may be required to diagnose small vessel vasculitis in order to make differential diagnosis with a wide range of conditions, such as degenerative vasculopathies, embolic diseases, or coagulation disorders. This paper discusses on current understanding of most frequent primary and secondary central nervous system vasculitis in children in which are involved small vessel.

Strategies for treatment of childhood primary angiitis of the central nervous system

“…2 In contrast, patients with AN-cPACNS exhibit normal angiography because of the difficulty in observing small vessels on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). 6,7 However, MRI is frequently abnormal, characterized by multifocal inflammatory lesions not specific to any vessel distribution or territory. 8,9 Thus, elective brain biopsy is mandated for diagnostic confirmation of AN-cPACNS.…”