From the Research
Definition of Amyloid Spell
- An amyloid spell refers to transient focal neurological deficits, which are commonly misdiagnosed as seizures or transient ischemic attacks in the emergency department 1.
- These spells are often associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a condition characterized by the deposition of insoluble amyloid protein into blood vessel walls, leading to vessel fragility and local neurotoxicity 1, 2.
Clinical Manifestations
- Amyloid spells can present with a range of symptoms, including recurrent paresthesias, sulcal cortical subarachnoid hemorrhages, and cardiac arrest 2.
- Patients with CAA who experience amyloid spells may be at an increased risk of future parenchymal hemorrhages, highlighting the need for close monitoring and tight blood pressure control 2.
Diagnosis and Imaging
- Radiologic findings in patients with amyloid spells may reveal microbleeds, cortical superficial siderosis, white matter hyperintensities, and cerebral edema, which can support the clinical diagnosis 1.
- CAA diagnostic criteria require CT or MRI imaging, or neuropathology, and the diagnosis can be suspected without imaging or neuropathology but cannot be confirmed 1.