Possible Chronic Graft-versus-host Disease in the Central Nervous System Manifesting as Cerebellar Ataxia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a fever, dizziness, and gait disturbance after undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia followed by graft-versus-host disease. She presented with cerebellar ataxia, nystagmus, and numbness of the lower extremities. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and perfusion scintigraphy showed progressive cerebellar involvement. Cerebrospinal fluid tests showed mildly elevated protein and IgG levels without pleocytosis. Anti-ganglioside antibodies were detected, but their levels did not follow the patient's clinical course. The patient did not respond sufficiently to steroids or other immunotherapies. We herein report the clinical characteristics of this case and a literature review.

Case Report: Paraneoplastic Hashimoto's Encephalopathy Associated With Lymphomatosis Cerebri With Periodic Synchronous Discharges Resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is an autoimmune encephalopathy that presents with various clinical symptoms, including cognitive deterioration, convulsive seizures, and personality changes. HE is associated with thyroid autoimmunity; however, few cases have been reported to develop as paraneoplastic syndrome. Herein, we report the case of a 73-year-old woman with onset of rapidly progressive dementia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse T2 hyperintensity areas involving the bilateral cerebral white matter, right midbrain tegmental area, left cerebral peduncle, and right middle cerebellar peduncle without clear diffusion hyperintensities and gadolinium enhancement. Her neurological symptoms worsened rapidly, and she presented with the apallic syndrome. Electroencephalogram showed periodic synchronous discharge, suggestive of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. However, a brain biopsy revealed infiltration of atypical lymphoid cells expressing CD20, and the anti-NH2 terminal of the α-enolase antibody was detected, diagnosing the complication with lymphomatosis cerebri and HE. High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy and oral prednisolone with whole cranial irradiation enabled her to have simple conversations and consume food orally; however, severe cognitive impairment persisted. Although HE is a rare complication of malignant lymphoma, clinicians should be aware that it could be strongly suspected if the clinical symptoms worsen in the absence of imaging changes.

Gerstmann's Syndrome in a Patient Double-positive for Antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor and NH2-terminal of α-enolase.

We herein report a case of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis concurrent with NH2-terminal of α-enolase (NAE) antibodies. A 36-year-old Japanese woman presented with Gerstmann's syndrome followed by jerky involuntary movements, seizure, autonomic instability, and consciousness disturbance. NAE antibodies were detected in the serum; however, NMDAR antibodies were identified in the cerebrospinal fluid with a cell-based assay, confirming the diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. This case highlights the fact that Gerstmann's syndrome can be a manifestation of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and that NAE may be identified concurrently with NMDAR antibodies, suggesting that the diagnosis of Hashimoto encephalopathy requires the reasonable exclusion of alternative diagnoses, including anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Neurogenic bladder associated with xeroderma pigmentosum type A: A case report and literature review.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by a defect in deoxyribonucleic acid repair. Along with cutaneous symptoms, neurological symptoms are important clinical features of XP. However, information on neurogenic bladder occurrence among XP cases is rare. Herein, we describe a case of neurogenic bladder in a patient with XP type A (XPA). In this case, low bladder compliance, impaired bladder emptying, and urethral sphincter discoordination were significant cystometric findings, and frequent febrile urinary tract infection was a clinical problem. XPA patients often cannot express their symptoms because of cognitive dysfunction. Close follow-up and assessments are necessary.

Hashimoto's Encephalopathy Presenting with Smoldering Limbic Encephalitis.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a steroid-responsive autoimmune encephalopathy associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. We herein report a case of HE manifesting "smoldering" limbic encephalitis with persisting symptoms and abnormalities on examinations. Although our patient experienced partial clinical remission after treatment, hippocampal hypermetabolism on [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and subclinical seizures on video electroencephalography persisted. Hypermetabolism on FDG-PET was improved by additional prednisolone therapy. Thus, as with other autoimmune limbic encephalitis cases, HE can take a course of "smoldering" encephalitis. FDG-PET and electroencephalogram findings can reflect the disease activity degree in such patients, although with certain neurophysiological and biochemical distinctions.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy mimicking a brain tumor and its pathological findings: A case report.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy is characterized by the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies with no alternative cause. Patients with Hashimoto's encephalopathy present with various clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. To our knowledge, this is the first documented report of Hashimoto's encephalopathy with MRI findings mimicking a brain tumor. The patient was a 41-year-old woman with a history of Hashimoto's disease. She experienced gradually worsening Parkinsonism and an MRI revealed a brain tumor-like lesion at the left caudate nucleus. She underwent a brain biopsy that revealed diffuse gliosis and perivascular lymphocyte infiltration with CD3+ T-cell predominance. No pathological signs of a brain tumor were found. Hashimoto's encephalopathy was suspected based on the patient's history and the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies. Her symptoms and the MRI findings improved with glucocorticoid treatment. Although there exist only a few studies on the pathology of Hashimoto's encephalopathy, our findings were consistent with those of previous reports. Our findings suggest cerebral vasculitis as an underlying etiology of Hashimoto's encephalopathy. We also emphasize the importance of considering Hashimoto's encephalopathy as a differential diagnosis of brain tumors.

Clinical findings of a probable case of MM2-cortical-type sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with antibodies to anti-N-terminus of α-enolase.

We report the case of a 76-year-old woman presenting with 47-month history of progressive dementia and cortical blindness with no family history. Antibodies against thyroid glands and the N-terminus of α-enolase (NAE) were detected in her serum. Neurological examination revealed progressive dementia, frontal signs, visual disturbance, and exaggerated bilateral tendon reflexes in both legs. Diffusion MRI showed cortical hyper-intensities in the bilateral occipital and parietal, and the left frontal and temporal cortices. 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer-single photon emission computed tomography indicated decreased regional cerebral blood flow throughout the bilateral parietal lobes and partially in the left frontal and temporal lobes. PRNP gene analysis showed no mutations with methionine homozygosity at codon 129 in peripheral blood. Cerebrospinal fluid examination, including 14-3-3 and total tau protein detection, revealed normal levels; however, prion proteins were amplified by the real-time quaking-induced conversion method. Hashimoto's encephalopathy was excluded on the basis of unresponsiveness to corticosteroids. The symptoms progressed slowly. Periodic sharp-wave complexes were observed on electroencephalogram 36 months after the onset of symptoms; the patient reached a state of akinetic mutism at 47 months. This was a probable case of MM2-cortical-type sCJD with anti-NAE antibodies based on the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria for sCJD, genetic information, and the slowly progressive course. However, this case did not meet with the probable WHO diagnostic criteria until 3 years after symptom onset, highlighting the difficulty of diagnosing a living case of the MM2-type of sCJD. Therefore, establishment of clinical diagnostic criteria for MM2-type of sCJD is required.

Limbic encephalitis associated with anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase antibodies: A clinical subtype of Hashimoto encephalopathy.

Several types of autoantibodies have been reported in autoimmune limbic encephalitis (LE), such as antibodies against the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex including leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1). We recently reported a patient with autoimmune LE and serum anti-NH2-terminal of α-enolase (NAE) antibodies, a specific diagnostic marker for Hashimoto encephalopathy (HE), who was diagnosed with HE based on the presence of antithyroid antibodies and responsiveness to immunotherapy. This case suggests that LE patients with antibodies to both the thyroid and NAE could be diagnosed with HE and respond to immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicoimmunological features and efficacy of immunotherapy in LE associated with anti-NAE antibodies to determine whether the LE is a clinical subtype of HE.We examined serum anti-NAE antibodies in 78 LE patients with limbic abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging and suspected HE based on positivity for antithyroid antibodies. Nineteen of the 78 patients had anti-NAE antibodies; however, 5 were excluded because they were double positive for antibodies to the VGKC complex including LGI1. No antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), contactin-associated protein 2 (Caspr2), γ-aminobutyric acid-B receptor (GABABR), or α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) were detected in the 19 patients. Among the remaining 14 who were positive only for anti-NAE antibodies, the median age was 62.5 (20-83) years, 9 (64%) were women, and 8 (57%) showed acute onset, with less than 2 weeks between onset and admission. Consciousness disturbance (71%) and memory disturbance (64%) were frequently observed, followed by psychiatric symptoms (50%) and seizures (43%). The frequency of these symptoms significantly differed between the acute- and subacute-onset groups. Abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid and electroencephalogram were commonly observed (92% for both). Tumors were not identified in any cases. All patients responded to immunotherapy or spontaneously remitted, thereby fulfilling the criteria of HE.This study demonstrated that LE associated with anti-NAE antibodies is a nonparaneoplastic LE and various limbic symptoms that depend on the onset type. Favorable therapeutic efficacy suggests that this LE can be considered a clinical subtype of HE and that anti-NAE antibodies may be a promising indicator of the need for immunotherapy.

Prevalence of Autoantibodies and the Efficacy of Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Cerebellar Ataxia.

OBJECTIVE: Autoimmune cerebellar ataxias were recently reported to be treatable. However, the proportion of patients with cortical cerebellar atrophy of unknown etiology with autoimmune-associated cerebellar ataxia and the actual effectiveness of immunotherapy in these diseases remain unknown. METHODS: We measured the level of autoantibodies (including anti-gliadin antibody, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody, and anti-thyroid antibody) in 58 Japanese patients with cerebellar ataxia, excluding those with multiple system atrophy, hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia, cancer, or those who were receiving phenytoin, and the efficacy of immunotherapy was assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 58 (53%) patients were positive for anti-GAD antibody, anti-gliadin antibody, or anti-thyroid antibody. Seven of the 12 anti-gliadin antibody-positive patients, three of the four anti-GAD antibody-positive patients, and three of the six anti-thyroid antibody-positive patients responded well to immunotherapy, indicating that 59% of patients with ataxia-associated antibody-positive cerebellar ataxia undergoing immunotherapy responded well. CONCLUSION: Some patients with cerebellar ataxia have autoimmune conditions and diagnosing autoimmune cerebellar ataxia is therefore an important component in the care of patients with this disease entity.

Consensus Paper: Neuroimmune Mechanisms of Cerebellar Ataxias.

In the last few years, a lot of publications suggested that disabling cerebellar ataxias may develop through immune-mediated mechanisms. In this consensus paper, we discuss the clinical features of the main described immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias and address their presumed pathogenesis. Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias include cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-GAD antibodies, the cerebellar type of Hashimoto's encephalopathy, primary autoimmune cerebellar ataxia, gluten ataxia, Miller Fisher syndrome, ataxia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, and paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. Humoral mechanisms, cell-mediated immunity, inflammation, and vascular injuries contribute to the cerebellar deficits in immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias.

Haploinsufficiency of CSF-1R and clinicopathologic characterization in patients with HDLS.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the genetic, clinicopathologic, and neuroimaging characteristics of patients with hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids (HDLS) with the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) mutation. METHODS: We performed molecular genetic analysis of CSF-1R in patients with HDLS. Detailed clinical and neuroimaging findings were retrospectively investigated. Five patients were examined neuropathologically. RESULTS: We found 6 different CSF-1R mutations in 7 index patients from unrelated Japanese families. The CSF-1R mutations included 3 novel mutations and 1 known missense mutation at evolutionarily conserved amino acids, and 1 novel splice-site mutation. We identified a novel frameshift mutation. Reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed that the frameshift mutation causes nonsense-mediated mRNA decay by generating a premature stop codon, suggesting that haploinsufficiency of CSF-1R is sufficient to cause HDLS. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression level of CSF-1R in the brain from the patients was lower than from control subjects. The characteristic MRI findings were the involvement of the white matter and thinning of the corpus callosum with signal alteration, and sequential analysis revealed that the white matter lesions and cerebral atrophy relentlessly progressed with disease duration. Spotty calcifications in the white matter were frequently observed by CT. Neuropathologic analysis revealed that microglia in the brains of the patients demonstrated distinct morphology and distribution. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that patients with HDLS, irrespective of mutation type in CSF-1R, show characteristic clinical and neuroimaging features, and that perturbation of CSF-1R signaling by haploinsufficiency may play a role in microglial dysfunction leading to the pathogenesis of HDLS.

[Autoimmune encephalitis and its related-disorders].

Over the last few years, various autoantibodies against cell surface or intracellular antigens were identified in association with several forms of encephalitis, i.e. autoimmune encephalitis. Immunoprecipitaion and sequence analysis of the target protein (proteomics) provided the identification of the antigens corresponding to autoantibodies in autoimmune encephalitis. Appropriate preparation of antigens (synthesized peptides, or recombinant proteins prepared in E.coli or cultured mammalian cells) and assay systems (immunoblot, ELISA, immunoprecipitation or cell-based assay) should be selected for detection of each autoantibodies.Limbic encephalitis characterized by psychosis, dementia, seizures and abnormal movements is a common form of autoimmune encephalitis. Autoantibodies against the NMDA receptor, the AMPA receptor or the VGKC complex (LGI1 and Caspr2) were identified in limbic encephalitis with or without tumor association. Especially, limbic encephalitis associated with anti-NMDA receptor and ovarian teratoma became a distinct neurologic disorder to date.The intracellular antigens are also involved in several forms of encephalitis. Cerebellar ataxia is a common form of autoimmune encephalitis (cerebellits). The autoimmune cerebellar ataxia consists of paraneoplastic ataxia (anti-Yo etc.), anti-GAD-autoantibodies associated ataxia, gluten ataxia (anti-gliadin) and ataxic form of Hashimoto's encephalitis (anti-NAE).The early and accurate diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis is important because most patients show responses to immunotherapy.

[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus predominantly presenting with myositis at onset].

A 42-year-old woman presented with rapid myalgia of the thigh and muscle weakness in the proximal limbs with markedly elevated serum CK. Despite positive for antibodies to anti-nuclear, anti-ds-DNA, anti-ss-DNA, anti-Sm, anti-SS-A/Ro, C-ANCA, anti-U1-RNP and anti-ribosome and slight lymphocytopenia and hypocomplementemia, there was no symptom associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Proteinuria and hematuria were initially considered to be associated with renal damage due to myoglobinuria. Muscle MRI demonstrated high signal intensities in the rectus femoris. Muscle biopsy of the rectus femoris demonstrated a mild variation in fiber size, a few necrotic and several regenerating fibers and minimal lymphocytic infiltration in the endomysium, which suggested myopathic changes with mild necrotic and regenerating processes. Thus she was diagnosed as idiopathic myositis at first, and was treated by corticosteroid therapy. Her myalgia and CK level improved, but the proteinuria and hematuria were persistent. A renal biopsy demonstrated lupus nephritis, and SLE with myositis was confirmed. She was treated with additional tacrolimus administration, and her proteinuria and hematuria also improved. The present case suggests that patients who predominantly present with myositis accompanied by nephritis and autoantibodies should be considered as SLE with myositis.

Lymphomatosis cerebri: clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, and pathological findings.

Lymphomatosis cerebri is a rare variant of primary central nervous system lymphoma. We present a case involving a 56-year-old immunocompetent woman who complained of rapid deterioration of her higher brain function over a 4-month period. Magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive white-matter lesions. During brain biopsy, a diffusely infiltrating lymphoma with distinctive immunohistochemical features was detected. Awareness of this unique presentation and early tissue diagnosis provide the best hope for instituting appropriate treatments.

Radiolabeled Cu-ATSM as a novel indicator of overreduced intracellular state due to mitochondrial dysfunction: studies with mitochondrial DNA-less ρ0 cells and cybrids carrying MELAS mitochondrial DNA mutation.

OBJECTIVES: Radiolabeled Cu-diacetyl-bis (N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone) (*Cu-ATSM), including (60/62/64)Cu-ATSM, is a potential imaging agent of hypoxic tumors for positron emission tomography (PET). We have reported that *Cu-ATSM is trapped in tumor cells under intracellular overreduced states, e.g., hypoxia. Here we evaluated *Cu-ATSM as an indicator of intracellular overreduced states in mitochondrial disorders using cell lines with mitochondrial dysfunction. METHODS: Mitochondrial DNA-less ρ(0)206 cells; the parental 143B human osteosarcoma cells; the cybrids carrying mutated mitochondria from a patient of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) (2SD); and that carrying wild-type one (2SA) were used. Cells were treated under normoxia or hypoxia, and (64)Cu-ATSM uptake was examined to compare it with levels of biological reductant NADH and NADPH. RESULTS: ρ(0)206 cells showed higher (64)Cu-ATSM uptake than control 143B cells under normoxia, whereas (64)Cu-ATSM uptake was not significantly increased under hypoxia in ρ(0)206 cells. Additionally, (64)Cu-ATSM uptake showed correlate change to the NADH and NADPH levels, but not oxygenic conditions. 2SD cells showed increased (64)Cu-ATSM uptake under normoxia as compared with the control 2SA, and (64)Cu-ATSM uptake followed NADH and NADPH levels, but not oxygenic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: (64)Cu-ATSM accumulated in cells with overreduced states due to mitochondrial dysfunction, even under normoxia. We recently reported that (62)Cu-ATSM-PET can visualize stroke-like episodes maintaining oxygen supply in MELAS patients. Taken together, our data indicate that *Cu-ATSM uptake reflects overreduced intracellular states, despite oxygenic conditions; thus, *Cu-ATSM would be a promising marker of intracellular overreduced states for disorders with mitochondrial dysfunction, such as MELAS, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Transient elevation of international normalized ratio during cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients who are taking warfarin.

OBJECTIVE: To report 2 cases of a probable interaction between cisplatin and warfarin. CASE SUMMARY: Two cases of transient elevation of international normalized ratio (INR) during irinotecan (60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15) plus cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 1) chemotherapy with concomitant warfarin are presented. In both cases, warfarin dosages were stable at the therapeutic target range prior to initiation of chemotherapy. Granisetron hydrochloride (3 mg on days 1, 8, and 15) and dexamethasone (13.2 mg on day 1 and 6.6 mg on days 2, 3, 8, and 15) were used prior to irinotecan administration in both patients. In addition, aprepitant was administered to both patients for 3-5 days with cisplatin. One of these patients also received aprepitant with irinotecan on days 8 and 15. During chemotherapy, INR was transiently elevated almost 1.5-fold over baseline level on day 3. This variation did not occur in subsequent irinotecan cycles on days 8 and 15. The timing of these increases was similar in each of the cycles. DISCUSSION: Cisplatin was the common drug in the cases presented and therefore could be related to the INR elevations. To our knowledge, these are the first reports of an interaction between warfarin and irinotecan-cisplatin chemotherapy, but reports of a similar interaction with chemotherapy including platinum derivatives exist. Use of the Horn Drug Interaction Probability Scale indicated a probable interaction between warfarin and cisplatin. CONCLUSIONS: Cisplatin might affect the anticoagulation function of warfarin. Careful INR monitoring is necessary during antineoplastic chemotherapy with cisplatin in patients taking warfarin.

A case of Gitelman syndrome associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

An 18-year-old woman with Gitelman syndrome (GS) associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is described. She was obese and showed a 10 kg gain in body weight over a period of 8 months. She presented with headache, vomiting, and diplopia. She had bilateral papilledema, and right abducens palsy. CSF examination demonstrated high pressure (over 320 mmH(2)O) with normal cytochemistry. Brain MRI was normal. She showed mild alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, increased plasma renin activity, and normal blood pressure. Two heterozygous mutations in the SLC12A3 gene were identified. Therefore, she was diagnosed as GS with IIH. We should keep in mind the possible occurrence of IIH in GS.

[Case of neuro-Behçet disease with HLA-B54, Cw1, which is difficult in clinical diagnosis from neuro-Sweet disease].

The patient was a 53-year-old woman with an 18-year history of recurrent oral aphtae, genital ulcers and folliculitis-like erupsions without mucocutaneus symptoms. She was admitted to our hospital for headache, and presented with meningeal irritation, dysarthria and right pyramidal signs. Brain MRI showed abnormal intensities extending from the right midbrain to the bilateral corona radiata, accompanied by contrast enhancement. She was diagnosed as having an incomplete form of neuro-Behçet disease (NBD) based on the diagnostic criteria for NBD. However, the HLA-type was defined as B54 and Cw1, which is common and specific in neuro-Sweet disease (NSD). Oral administration of prednisolone was markedly effective for the neurological symptoms and improved radiological findings, suggesting NSD rather than NBD as the clinical diagnosis for this patient Since she presented with clinical features that appeared in both diseases, the definitive diagnosis was clinically difficult. While tapering the dosage of prednisolone, we carefully observed the appearance of skin lesions and erythema nodosum appearing on her right lower leg. Skin biopsy demonstrated the features of erythema nodosum: lobular panniculitis with the accumulation of neutrophils and lymphocytes with necrotic fatty cells in the subcutaneous area, which was compatible with skin lesions in NBD. In our case, pathological findings of the skin lesion were required to differentiate between NBD and NSD, indicating the need for careful follow-up of dermatologic signs appearing in such a case.

[Effects of voriconazole and vascular lesions in invasion of aspergillosis into the central nerve system].

We report 2 patients showing invasion of aspergillosis into the central nerve system (CNS). Patient 1, an 81-year-old woman, underwent surgery for sphenoidal sinusitis. She developed cerebral infarction with unconsciousness on 12th postoperative day. CSF examination demonstrated pleocytosis with increased protein and aspergillus antigen. She was diagnosed as having invasion of aspergillosis into the CNS, and was treated with voriconazole. Her clinical manifestations and CSF findings markedly improved. However, the effects of voriconazole gradually attenuated and she demonstrated recurrence of the cerebral infarction. After 2 months, she died of systemic aspergillosis and sepsis. Autopsy studies. Severe atherosclerotic changes with calcification were demonstrated in the bilateral carotid and basilar arteries, and many aspergillus were clustered in the vessel walls. Granulomatous inflammatory lesions with aspergillus were also demonstrated in the area surrounding the chiasm. There were no massive infarcts or bleeding in the brain, but multiple small infarcts were present. Patinet 2, a 64-year-old man, showing bilateral visual loss, was receiving treatment with corticosteroids under a diagnosis of optic neuritis. Two weeks later, he developed cerebral infarction. CSF examination showed pleocytosis with increased protein and aspergillus antigen. He was diagnosed as having invasive aspergillosis from the sphenoidal sinusitis into the CNS. He was treated with voriconazole, and unconsciousness and CSF findings improved transiently. However, he developed a recurrence of the brain infarction and pneumonia and finally died 6 months later. Treatment by voriconazole was definitely effective in both patients, but both patients died of recurrent cerebral infarction, possibly due to resistance for voriconazole, or developing multicellular filamentous biofilms. Voriconazole is recommended as the first choice of antifungal agents for aspergillosis. Aspergillus infection is strongly invasive into arterial vessels. It is important to consider the possible occurrence of cerebrovascular disease when treating invasion of aspergillosis into the CNS.