Vasculitis of central nervous system (CNS) is a term used for broad spectrum of inflammatory diseases which result in destruction of blood vessels of brain, meninges and spinal cord. Angiitis is synonym for vasculitis which refers generally to blood vessels of both arterial and venous sides of circulation. This article will give an overview of primary angiitis of CNS in adults. Primary angiitis of CNS (PACNS) is the most preferred term for vasculitis which is restricted to CNS.
CNS vasculitis is generally considered secondary when it occurs with systemic inflammatory disease, such as a systemic vasculitis or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or an infectious condition due to varicella zoster virus. PACNS mostly affects small and medium arteries of spinal cord, brain parenchyma and leptomeninges which results into symptomology of CNS dysfunction. PACNS is rare disease but poses serious…
