Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
26:48
Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: July 4, 2007
18.3K
Lupus Cerebellitis Presenting With Ataxia: A Case Report
Tyler J Kristoff1, Aaron Shoskes2, Benjamin Claytor3
1Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
The Neurohospitalist
|December 24, 2021
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus can cause lupus cerebellitis, leading to ataxia. This case shows unique cerebellar MRI findings and successful treatment with methylprednisolone, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Radiology
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
- Neurological manifestations of SLE are diverse, including central nervous system involvement.
- Cerebellar dysfunction can occur in SLE patients, but lupus cerebellitis is rare.
Observation:
- A patient with a history of SLE presented with persistent ataxia.
- Brain MRI revealed T2/FLAIR signal hyperintensity in the cerebellar vermis without mass effect.
- The observed imaging findings were unique to the cerebellum.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of lupus cerebellitis was confirmed in the patient.
- Treatment with pulse intravenous methylprednisolone led to clinical improvement.
- The case presented unique diagnostic and therapeutic insights.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering lupus cerebellitis in SLE patients with ataxia.
- Demonstrates the utility of specific MRI findings in diagnosing cerebellar involvement in SLE.
- Suggests pulse IV methylprednisolone as an effective treatment for lupus cerebellitis.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
01:26Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
01:19Cerebral Edema l: Introduction
Cerebral edema is a pathological increase in brain water content that disrupts intracranial pressure regulation and impairs neurological function. Because the cranial vault is rigid, even modest increases in tissue volume can compromise cerebral perfusion, distort neural structures, and initiate secondary injury. Cerebral edema develops through four principal mechanisms: vasogenic, cytotoxic, interstitial, and ionic.Vasogenic EdemaVasogenic edema arises from disruption of the blood–brain...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...
01:29Hepatic Encephalopathy
DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...