Some Causes of Noninfectious Meningitis
Type | Examples |
|---|---|
Disorders | Cancer that has spread to the brain from other parts of the body (metastatic cancer), as can occur in leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, or breast or lung cancer Rupture of a brain cyst Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) |
Drugs that suppress the immune system (used to treat autoimmune disorders and inflammation or to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ) | Cytosine arabinoside Immune globulin given by vein (intravenously) |
Other drugs | |
Substances that are injected into the subarachnoid space† for treatment or diagnosis | Anesthetics Antibiotics Chemotherapy drugs Radiopaque contrast agents used in imaging tests |
N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a substance that probably causes cancer. | |
†The subarachnoid space contains cerebrospinal fluid and is located between middle and inner layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord (meninges). | |