A case of lupus meningitis treated successfully with methylprednisolone pulse therapy

A 46-year-old female had suffered from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for 8 years. Headache, vomiting and stiff neck appeared in the active phase of SLE. Findings in the cerebrospinal fluid were consistent with those of lupus meningitis. No pathogenic microbes were detected by microbiological or immunological examinations. She was diagnosed as having lupus meningitis. The method discussed herein which elucidates the cause of fever in SLE using white blood cell count (WBC) and alpha-2 globulin appeared to be useful for examining this case of meningitis. Lupus meningitis seems to preferentially occur in SLE patients with positive anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody. Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone appeared to work well in this lupus meningitis patient who had had a long course of corticosteroid therapy.