Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Treatment of Catatonia Due To Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The use of electroconvulsive therapy in case of catatonia due to systemic lupus erythematosus refractory in treatment with immunosuppressant is rare. Therefore, we report a case of catatonia due to systemic lupus erythematosus treated with electroconvulsive therapy as an adjuvant to cyclophosphamide treatment. A 34-year-old female patient diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus attended the rheumatology outpatient clinic with a history of catatonia for 8 weeks and laboratory tests revealed high titers of anti-ds DNA positive anti-RNP and polyclonal gammopathy. cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was scheduled in association with electroconvulsive therapy, in 12 sessions, twice a week. The patient evolved with significant clinical improvement after 6 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy and 2 pulses of cyclophosphamide, with negative anti-ds DNA and normalization of gamma globulin levels. Thus, electroconvulsive therapy should be considered as adjuvant therapy in severe cases of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, including catatonia, especially in those with relapses and poor response to immunosuppressant and psychotropic drugs.