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Cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Classification and external resources
DiseasesDB	32874
eMedicine	neuro/628
MeSH	D016657

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, also known as congophilic angiopathy,^[1] is a form of angiopathy in which amyloid deposits form in the walls of the blood vessels of the central nervous system.^[2] The term congophilic is used because the presence of the abnormal aggregations of amyloid can be demonstrated by microscopic examination of brain tissue after application of a special stain called Congo red.

Contents 1 Causes 2 Presentation 3 Diagnosis 4 Types 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Causes

An immune mechanism has been proposed.^[3]

[edit] Presentation

Amyloid deposition predisposes these blood vessels to failure, increasing the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke. Since this can be caused by the same amyloid protein that is associated with Alzheimer's dementia^[4] such brain hemorrhages are more common in people who suffer from Alzheimer's, however they can also occur in those who have no history of dementia. The hemorrhage within the brain is usually confined to a particular lobe and this is slightly different compared to brain hemorrhages which occur as a consequence of high blood pressure (hypertension) - a more common cause of a hemorrhagic stroke (or cerebral hemorrhage).

[edit] Diagnosis

Susceptibility weighted imaging has been proposed as a tool for identifying CAA-related microhemorrhages.^[5]

Biopsies also play a role in diagnosing the condition.^[6]

[edit] Types

It is usually associated with amyloid beta.^[7] This form has been associated with "Abeta-related angiitis".^[8]

However, there are other types:

• the "Icelandic type" is associated with Cystatin C.^[9]
• the "British type" is associated with ITM2B (also known as "BRI").^[10]

Research is currently being conducted to determine if there is a link between cerebral amyloid angiopathy and ingestion of excessive quantities of aluminium, as occurred in the Camelford water pollution incident.^[11]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy research group at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston

v • d • e Metabolic disease: amyloidosis (E85, 277.3) Common amyloid forming proteins Serum amyloid A  · Transthyretin  · Beta-2 microglobulin  · Bence Jones protein  · Amyloid precursor protein  · Beta amyloid  · Amylin Systemic amyloidosis AL amyloidosis  · AA amyloidosis  · Haemodialysis-associated amyloidosis  · Senile systemic amyloidosis  · Finnish type amyloidosis  · Familial Mediterranean fever Organ-limited amyloidosis Heart Cardiac amyloidosis Brain Familial amyloid neuropathy  · Cerebral amyloid angiopathy  · Alzheimer's disease Kidney Familial renal amyloidosis Cutaneous Primary cutaneous amyloidosis  · Amyloid purpura Thyroid Calcitonin Pituitary Prolactin Pancreas Amylin