Rapid development of cerebral atrophy in systemic lupus erythematosus

Br J Rheumatol. 1986 Aug;25(3):296-9. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/25.3.296.

Abstract

A 21-year-old female is described who developed severe cerebral lupus 9 months after the onset of her disease. A dramatic change in her CT brain scan from normal to gross cerebral atrophy was observed in the month following onset of her cerebral disease. This patient developed hepatitis during the course of her hospitalization. This is an unusual manifestation of systemic lupus. The patient's serum also contained anti-Sm antibodies. This is a relatively infrequent finding in the serum of lupus patients outside the United States.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Atrophy / etiology
  • Atrophy / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / analysis
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / immunology
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • snRNP Core Proteins

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear
  • snRNP Core Proteins