Many forms of vasculitis can affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, including:
Giant cell arteritis (also known as temporal arteritis or cranial arteritis)
Giant cell arteritis affects the aorta, which brings blood to every branch of the body, including the arms, legs, and head. The temporal artery (found on both sides of the head and running across the temple) and the ophthalmic artery that supplies the eyes are often affected. Giant cell arteritis typically occurs in people age 50 years and older. Untreated temporal arteritis can cause strokes and even death. Symptoms include:
- New, severe headache
- Visual problems, including blurred or double vision, or sudden vision loss
- Pain in the jaw or tongue when chewing or swallowing
- Tenderness in the temporal arteries or the scalp
Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (also known as granulomatous angiitis)
This rare disorder, which is confined to the brain and spinal cord, typically develops slowly and includes headache, dementia, behavioral changes, pain, sensory abnormalities, and tremor. Stroke, transient ischemic attack, multiple mini-strokes, and seizures can occur. The disorder can affect anyone of any age but peaks about age 50 and is most often seen in males. It is fatal if left untreated.
Takayasu's arteritis
This disease affects large arteries such as the aorta. It may cause strokes, headaches, dizziness, a feeling of cold or numbness in the limbs, problems with memory and thinking, and visual disturbances. It also may cause heart attacks and damage to the intestines. The disorder can cause partial to complete disability and can be fatal if left untreated. Most individuals with the disorder are female, with disease onset between the ages 15 and 40.
Polyarteritis nodosa
The onset of this rare disease can occur at any age but most often appears between the ages of 40 and 60. Men are affected more often than women. Damage to the peripheral nerves with neuropathy is more common than damage to the brain and spinal cord tissue. As the disease progresses the kidneys may fail and high blood pressure may develop rapidly. In some instances, the disease can recur after a few years. If untreated, the disorder is often fatal, ending in failure of vital organs.
Deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (also known as DADA2)
DADA2 is a rare, genetic form of vasculitis that is caused by a mutation in the CECR1 gene and can occur in more than one family member. Most individuals with DADA2 experience strokes in infancy or early childhood. DADA2 was discovered by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Kawasaki disease is a rare form of vasculitis that can cause stroke or brain damage in children. It primarily affects children age 5 or younger. Inflammation of the walls of blood vessels in the coronary arteries may cause aneurysms.