Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: micro-haemorrhages demonstrated by magnetic resonance susceptibility-weighted imaging

摘要

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by beta-amyloid deposits in small- and medium-sized cerebral arteries and overlying leptomeninges, leading lo impaired elasticity, subsequent ischaemia and haemor-rhagic stroke. Although these lobar haemorrhages rarely occur before age 55 years , increased life expectancy and incidence of hypertension have made CAA haemorrhages increasingly common . Autopsy studies demonstrate that the prevalence of CAA far exceeds observed lobar haemorrhages. CAA is found in routine post mortem studies in almost 50% of individuals over age 80 years .