Magnetic resonance imaging findings in lupus ataxia

We present a 47-year-old white woman who had a definitive diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and developed cerebellar ataxia of sudden onset. MR imaging showed changes characteristics of cerebellar infarct. Due to the absence of vascular risk factors and to the previous diagnosis of SLE, we postulate that the cerebellar infarct is related to SLE. We are not aware of previous descriptions of the MRI findings in lupus ataxia.