J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2002 Dec;9(4):335-340.

Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Park MC
• Park YB
• Moon JY
• Kim HJ
• Lee SK
• Heo K
• Park SY
• Kim DI

Abstract

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a clinico-radiologic syndrome, first described by Hinchey, et al in 1996, which was reported to be associated with several medical conditions, including hypertensive encephalopathy, chronic renal insufficiency, blood transfusion and eclampsia. RPLS is also reported to be developed during treatment with immuno-suppressive drugs such as cisplatin, cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, and interferon-alpha, the acute phase of autoimmune disease, and post-transplantation state. Clinical manifestations of RPLS are headache, nausea, vomiting, altered mental status, seizures, cortical blindness, other visual disturbances, and motor deficits. Neuroimaging shows bilateral subcortical and cortical edema with a predominant posterior distribution. The association of RPLS and systemic lupus erythematosus has been rarely reported in the literature, but not yet in Korea. Recently we experienced a patient with SLE, who had RPLS during her disease flare.

Keyword

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Hypertension; Immunosuppression

MeSH Terms

Autoimmune Diseases
Blindness, Cortical
Blood Transfusion
Cisplatin
Cyclosporine
Eclampsia
Edema
Female
Glycogen Storage Disease Type VI
Headache
Humans
Hypertension
Hypertensive Encephalopathy
Immunosuppression
Interferon-alpha
Korea
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*
Nausea
Neuroimaging
Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome*
Pregnancy
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Seizures
Tacrolimus
Vomiting
Cisplatin
Cyclosporine
Interferon-alpha
Tacrolimus