Vasculitis of the central and peripheral nervous system mimicking brain death

We describe a 33 year old man with a severe vasculitis causng a profound axonal neuropathy and brainstem syndrome. The atient became unresponsive and lost all movement and braintem reflexes. The EEG showed poorly reactive rhythms suggesting lobal cortical dysfunction. The clinical signs were compatible with rainstem death except that an irreversible cause had not been emonstrated. The patient was treated and subsequently made a ood recovery.