PRIMARY ANGIITIS OF THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM - REPORT OF 2 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

TWO CASES OF primary angiitis of the central nervous system with subar achnoid hemorrhage are reported. One patient was admitted with very th in and localized sulcal subarachnoid hemorrhage, followed by the devel opment of multiple parenchymal edema. Although the first angiography s howed only a mild narrowing of an artery, the second angiography demon strated multiple segmental narrowings of arteries. An open biopsy fail ed to show histological changes. The second patient suffered from sylv ian subarachnoid hemorrhage along with multiple intracerebral hemorrha ges, with angiography that was diagnostic for angiitis. In both cases, predonine was initiated and further angiography clearly demonstrated a resolution of the angiitis. The usefulness of serial angiography for diagnosis in comparison with surgical biopsy and for monitoring the t reatment of this disease is discussed. The occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage in this disease is also reviewed.