Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: early presentation in a patient with prior neurosurgical interventions. Case report

BACKGROUND: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) has classically been described as a disease of the elderly. Genetic predisposition has been linked to the APOE e3/e3 allele. Evidence suggests that brain insult in the form of injury, prior surgical intervention, or radiation can exacerbate the clearance of toxic proteins in patients susceptible to CAA. CASE: We describe a unique case of CAA in a 30-year-old male who had prior surgical interventions for spina bifida, Chiari malformation, and hydrocephalus as a child. CONCLUSIONS: The case is used to teach important components regarding diagnosis, clinical suspicion, and highlight the need for further investigation regarding the emerging role of the glymphatic system and its role in clinical pathology.