Multiple Border-Zone Infarcts Triggered by Influenza A Virus Infection in a Patient With Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy Presenting With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy

Abstract

Patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) can develop multiple border-zone infarcts due to hypotension, hypovolemia, or surgery. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman with CADASIL who developed multiple border-zone infarcts due to influenza A virus infection. The patient had no apparent history or episode of stroke or altered consciousness following the onset of respiratory symptoms, which were due to the influenza A infection. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images of the brain showed multiple acute-phase infarcts in border-zone areas of both cerebral hemispheres and the corpus callosum; fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery magnetic resonance images showed increased signal in the subcortical areas of both temporal poles. Gene analysis identified a heterozygous mutation c.160C>T in exon 2 of the NOTCH3 gene (p.Arg54Cys). A diagnosis of CADASIL was established. Our case demonstrates that infectious conditions such as influenza A can trigger multiple border-zone infarctions in patients with CADASIL.