Neurovascular diseases affect the cerebral vascular system and the spinal cord that encompasses any abnormality of the blood vessels within or supplying the brain and spine. Abnormalities may be narrowing of arteries which reduce blood flow to the brain that leads to risk of Stroke and weakening of arteries that leads brain aneurysms and increase the risk of intracranial bleeding.
Common neurovascular diseases are:
• brain aneurysms
• stroke
• arteriovenous malformations
• Vasculitis
• brain (cerebral) hemorrhage
• spinal vascular malformations
• carotid stenosis
• intracranial atherosclerosis, etc.
Aneurysm
A brain aneurysm (AN-yoo-riz-um) is a bulging area within the wall of an artery that supplies the brain. It often looks like a berry hanging on a stem. In most cases, brain aneurysms do not produce symptoms. In some cases, the aneurysm may cause symptoms by pushing on other areas of the brain. Depending on the size of the aneurysm and the area involved, these symptoms can include:
• headaches,
• neck pain,
• blurred vision, and
• speech changes
When a brain aneurysm ruptures, there is bleeding within the brain. Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm come on suddenly and include a severe, sudden headache that is different from other headaches an individual has experienced. Other symptoms of rupture are
• neck pain,
• sensitivity to light,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• seizures,
• fainting,
• dizziness, and
• loss of consciousness
A brain aneurysm is also known as a cerebral aneurysm or a cerebral artery aneurysm. It is also more common in adults than in children and more common in women than in men.
What causes brain aneurysms?
Many different conditions can cause aneurysms. In some cases, no cause can be identified. Other cases are caused by high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, trauma, heredity, and abnormal blood flow. Less common causes include infections of the artery wall. Tumors can also cause aneurysms to form. Drug abuse, especially cocaine, can cause weakening and inflammation of artery walls, increasing the risk of aneurysm.
Sources:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. https://www.medicinenet.com/brain_aneurysm_symptoms_and_signs/symptoms.htm
Mayo Clinic: Diseases & Conditions> Brain Aneurysm https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20361483
Vasculitis
Vasculitis is a general term for a group of uncommon diseases that feature inflammation of the blood vessels. The blood vessels of the body are referred to as the vascular system. The blood vessels are comprised of arteries that pass oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body and veins that return oxygen-depleted blood from the tissues to the lungs for oxygen. Vasculitis is characterized by inflammation in and damage to the walls of various blood vessels.
Each of the vasculitis diseases is defined by certain patterns of distribution of blood vessel involvement, particular organ involvement, and laboratory test abnormalities. As a group, these diseases are referred to as vasculitides.
The word vasculitis is derived from the Latin “vasculum”, vessel + “- itis”, inflammation. Another term for vasculitis is angiitis. When arteries are the inflamed blood vessels, the condition is also referred to as arteritis. When the veins are inflamed, it is referred to as venulitis.
What causes vasculitis, and what are examples of diseases with vasculitis?
The actual cause of these vasculitis diseases is usually not known. However, immune system abnormality and inflammation of blood vessels are common features. Each form of vasculitis has its own characteristic pattern of symptoms, much of which depends on what particular organs are affected.
Examples of vasculitis include:
• Kawasaki disease,
• Behçet’s disease,
• polyarteritis nodosa,
• Wegener’s granulomatosis,
• Cryoglobulinemia,
• Takayasu’s arteritis,
• Churg-Strauss syndrome,
• Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis), and
• Henoch-Schönlein purpura
Vasculitis can also accompany:
• Infections (such as hepatitis B),
• Exposure to chemicals (such as amphetamines and cocaine),
• Medications,
• Cancers (such as lymphomas and multiple myeloma), and
• Rheumatic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus)
What are the symptoms of vasculitis?
The symptoms of vasculitis vary greatly from person to person, and depend upon the organs affected and the severity.
• Generally, vasculitis causes fatigue and malaise.
• Sometimes vasculitis can lead to weakness and weight loss.
• Vasculitis affecting the skin can cause rashes, skin discoloration, and ulcers.
• Vasculitis affecting the muscles can cause muscle pain.
• Vasculitis affecting the lungs can cause shortness of breath and cough.
• Vasculitis affecting the heart can cause congestive heart failure.
• Vasculitis affecting the brain can cause headaches, confusion, seizures, stroke, paralysis, numbness, and lightheadedness.
• Vasculitis affecting the kidneys can cause kidney failure.
Source: https://www.medicinenet.com/vasculitis/index.htm
Brain Hemmorhages
A brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke. It’s caused by an artery in the brain bursting and causing localized bleeding in the surrounding tissues. This bleeding kills brain cells.
The Greek root for blood is hemo. Hemorrhage literally means “blood bursting forth.” Brain hemorrhages are also called cerebral hemorrhages, intracranial hemorrhages, or intracerebral hemorrhages. They account for about 13% of strokes.
What Happens During a Brain Hemorrhage?
When blood from trauma irritates brain tissues, it causes swelling. This is known as cerebral edema. The pooled blood collects into a mass called a hematoma. These conditions increase pressure on nearby brain tissue, and that reduces vital blood flow and kills brain cells.
Bleeding can occur inside the brain, between the brain and the membranes that cover it, between the layers of the brain’s covering or between the skull and the covering of the brain.
What Causes Bleeding in the Brain?
There are several risk factors and causes of brain hemorrhages. The most common include:
• Head trauma . Injury is the most common cause of bleeding in the brain for those younger than age 50.
• High blood pressure . This chronic condition can, over a long period of time, weaken blood vessel walls. Untreated high blood pressure is a major preventable cause of brain hemorrhages.
• Aneurysm . This is a weakening in a blood vessel wall that swells. It can burst and bleed into the brain, leading to a stroke.
• Blood vessel abnormalities. (Arteriovenous malformations) Weaknesses in the blood vessels in and around the brain may be present at birth and diagnosed only if symptoms develop.
• Amyloid angiopathy. This is an abnormality of the blood vessel walls that sometimes occurs with aging and high blood pressure. It may cause many small, unnoticed bleeds before causing a large one.
• Blood or bleeding disorders. Hemophilia and sickle cell anemia can both contribute to decreased levels of blood platelets.
• Liver disease. This condition is associated with increased bleeding in general.
• Brain tumors
Source: https://www.webmd.com/brain/brain-hemorrhage-bleeding-causes-symptoms-treatments#1
