Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: Vasculitis vs. Cerebritis

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Lupus


Can you please tell me the difference between vasculitis and cebritis in lupus. My PC says its cebritis and my neurologist says vasculitis. How serious are they? I've had MRI which was negative and no other tests. I have high sed rate and borderline ANA. I'm on no meds. Is there something else that we should be doing?
Thank you!

Dear Rosa,
thank you for your question.
Vasculitis means inflammation of the blood vessels, it could be anywhere including the brain. Cerebritis refers to inflammation of the brain.
Both can be seen in LUpus. Symptoms include mental derangement, seizure, multiple small strokes. High sed rate is non specific and your ANA is probably negative (if it is borderline, or low titer).
The diagnosis of vasculitis is made by angiogram, that is by injecting contrast to the blood vessels in the brain and see if the blood vessels are abnormal. If it is, then the test is positive, if it is negative, it does not help as there are cases of angiogram negative vasculitis. Treatment is with steroids.

Good luck, I hope the above information helps.
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