A PRESing case of visual changes and confusion

Visual disturbances are an uncommon pediatric chief complaint. Usually, after a complete ocular exam including visual acuity, most causes are benign and not life-threatening. Children with abnormal visual complaints who have underlying medical conditions, such as SLE or other autoimmune conditions, a recipient of a transplant, renal disease, and even eclampsia require closer scrutiny. We report a 10-year-old female with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by hypertension and cardiomyopathy secondary to lupus who presented to the emergency department with a history of vision loss and headache. Head computer tomography demonstrated findings of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). PRES is a clinical disease associated with cranial radiological findings of heterogenous etiologies that is often reversible. Prompt recognition and treatment are important in preventing permanent damage, long term morbidity and even death.