Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-mp689 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T08:09:19.921Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

59 - SCLERODERMA

from PART V: - SYSTEMIC DISORDERS THAT ALSO INVOLVE THE CEREBROVASCULAR SYSTEM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2010

Louis R. Caplan
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
Julien Bogousslavsky
Affiliation:
Valmont Clinique, Glion, Switzerland
Get access

Summary

Scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis) is a multisystem connective tissue disorder characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and vasculopathy of affected tissues. CNS vasculitis, segmental vasospasm, and cerebrovascular calcifications may all play a role in causing strokes in patients with scleroderma. CNS vasculitis has been diagnosed in several patients with scleroderma and has been posited to cause strokes. Cerebral infarction in scleroderma patients in the absence of other plausible, causative factors should prompt an aggressive workup for vasculitis including angiography. Results of cerebral angiography in several patients thought to have vasculitis are consistent with the diagnosis of vasoconstriction. Arteriography revealed segmental, often smoothly contoured, narrowing of arteries of multiple sizes (small, medium, and large) in both the anterior and posterior circulations. Whether vascular calcium deposits were responsible for the patients' cerebrovascular symptoms is speculative. Scleroderma patients with cerebrovascular disease must take into consideration the potential causes of stroke.
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×