[Atypical neuroradiologic manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus]

The most frequent neurological lesions found on Cranial Computerized Tomography (CT scan) in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are cortical atrophy (psychosis, although in general atrophy is not associated with a particular clinical presentation), infarcts and haemorraghes (strokes). We describe a patient diagnosed of SLE who developed a psychotic clinical picture followed by generalized epileptic seizures within a context of diffuse lupus encephalopathy. On the neurological examination, she presented cortical blindness, generalized piramidalism and extrapiramidal rigidity. Various electroencephalographic recordings showed signs of diffuse cerebral involvement predominantly in posterior regions. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed a slight increase of IgG without oligoclonal bands and a positive anti-DNA antibody with an homogeneous pattern. Sequential CT images were carried out demonstrating hypodense areas initially in the occipital regions that extended progressively to the temporal, parietal and finally to the frontal lobes, with a moderate mass effect on the lateral ventricles and with no contrast enhancement. The images of the lesions on the CT disappeared completely with the adequate treatment as the symptomatology resolved. A MRI and cerebral angiography were performed when the patient recovered. Both MRI and angiography showed no alterations. We consider that this neuroradiological finding is exceptional, because of its total resolution. Nevertheless, more observations will be necessary to determine the exact meaning of these abnormalities.