Chen Kai-Hsiang, Lin Chin-Hsien
Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.
BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Feb 25;2013:bcr2013008802. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-008802.
Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare inherited autosomal-dominant vascular dysplasia involving multiple organs. Brain abscess is an uncommon and potential fatal complication. We report a case of HHT caused by a novel ENG mutation who initially presented as brain abscess. The patient, with a family history of epistaxis, presented with fever, headache and right-sided haemiparesis. Upon examination, brain MRI showed a contrast-enhanced abscess on the left fronto-parietal region. Open brain drainage was performed and pus culture yielded Actinomyces meyeri. The chest image revealed multiple pulmonary arterio-venous fistulas. HHT was diagnosed according to Curacao criteria. Genetic analysis revealed a novel duplication on exon 6 of ENG gene, which segregates with symptomatic subjects in her family. Clinicians should be cautiously aware of HHT as a differential diagnosis if patients presented with an unknown entry source of intracerebral infections.
遗传性出血性毛细血管扩张症(HHT)是一种罕见的常染色体显性遗传的血管发育异常疾病,累及多个器官。脑脓肿是一种不常见且可能致命的并发症。我们报告一例由新的ENG基因突变引起的HHT病例,该患者最初表现为脑脓肿。该患者有鼻出血家族史,出现发热、头痛和右侧偏瘫。经检查,脑部磁共振成像(MRI)显示左额顶叶区域有一个强化脓肿。进行了开颅引流,脓液培养出迈耶放线菌。胸部影像显示多个肺动静脉瘘。根据库拉索标准诊断为HHT。基因分析显示ENG基因第6外显子有一个新的重复,在其家族中与有症状的个体共分离。如果患者出现不明来源的颅内感染,临床医生应谨慎考虑将HHT作为鉴别诊断。