Chapter 47 Rare causes of stroke

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the rare causes of stroke. A heterogeneous group of non-hereditary systemic disorders shares stroke as a common symptom. The development of disease symptoms in these disorders involves the arterial system, generally in the absence of atherosclerosis and inflammation. Commonly, the skin, ears, or eyes are affected. In very rare conditions all the sensory organs may be involved. The chapter discusses the non-hereditary systemic disorders involving the skin, non-hereditary systemic disorders involving the eyes, non-hereditary systemic disorders involving the ears and eyes, and cerebral angiopathies predisposing to stroke. The conditions described in this chapter represent a heterogeneous group of vasculopathies. Malignant atrophic papulosis ( MAP) is a rare and clinically distinctive vasculopathy, characterized mainly by cutaneous features with frequent gastrointestinal involvement. Diffuse meningocerebral angiomatosis and leukoencephalopathy is a congenital recessive disease that affects both adults and children. The epidermal nevus syndrome is a sporadic neurocutaneous disorder characterized by epidermal nevi and congenital anomalies that can involve all systems, frequently the brain. Facial lentiginosis associated with atrial myxoma is a rare cause of stroke. Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin has a direct toxic action on neuronal tissue and myelinated axons. The three major clinical pictures of eosinophil-induced neurotoxicity are axonal peripheral neuropathy, dementia, and stroke. Facial lentiginosis associated with atrial myxoma is a rare cause of stroke. The chapter also discusses various other diseases and syndrome that shows the rare causes of stroke.