Chronic Lymphocytic Inflammation with Pontine Perivascular Enhancement Responsive to Steroids (CLIPPERS) Mimicking Posterior Circulation Infarction

Abstract

CLIPPERS is a rare inflammatory condition of the central nervous system. It is pathologically characterised by white matter perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with or without parenchymal extension. A male patient in mid sixties presented with dysarthria and facial numbness underwent an MRI brain which supported a diagnosis of a subacute posterior circulation infarct. The patient re-presented with worsening of symptoms and a repeat MRI revealed changes atypical for ischaemia and consistent with CLIPPERS. Our case represents a common presentation of a very rare condition.