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Santos A, Kure C, Sanchez C, Gross P. The Diagnostic Dilemma of "The Great Imitator": Heart and Cerebral Involvement of Lupus Manifesting as Bilateral Upper and Lower Extremity Weakness. Case Rep Rheumatol 2023; 2023:6676357. [PMID: 37854887 PMCID: PMC10581839 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6676357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune condition which can cause complex, multiorgan dysfunction. This autoimmune disease is caused by the production of antinuclear antibodies which allows this disease to target virtually any organ in the human body. When a patient experiences an unpredictable worsening of disease activity, it is generally considered a lupus flare. Organ dysfunction due to a lupus flare tends to manifest as separate events in the literature and rarely do we witness multiple compounding organ failures during a lupus flare. If we do witness organ dysfunction and failure, rarely do we see cardiac and cerebral involvement. Typically, patients take immunosuppressants for a long term to avoid the patient's disease process from worsening and to provide prophylaxis from a flare to occur. Despite the availability in preventive strategies, some patients will have increased disease activity multiple times throughout their lifetime and will need increases in their medication doses or changes to their regimen. Some flares can be managed in the clinic, but more severe ones may be life-threatening that they require intravenous medications and hospitalization to achieve remission. In the following case, we see a patient with a past medical history of SLE on multiple immunosuppressants who arrived at the hospital with acute, bilateral weakness of the upper and lower extremities. It was later determined via various imaging and laboratory testing that she was having an SLE flare that was directly causing myocarditis which progressed to global ischemia of the brain via myocardial hypoperfusion. She experienced substantial recovery from her flare with treatment with high-dose, intravenous corticosteroids. Case Report. A 27-year-old female with a 2-year history of lupus and a 1-week history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presented with three days of bilateral focal neurological deficits in the arms and legs. She was found to have ischemic cardiac and neurologic manifestations during her hospital stay. Conclusion Our patient presented with reversible focal neurological deficits, elevated high-sensitive troponin levels, and high lupus serum antibodies who showed significant improvement after the introduction of high-dose steroids. This case recommends keeping a large differential and to not discount patients' past comorbidities for causing atypical symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catrina Kure
- Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, USA
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Hirohata S, Kikuchi H. Role of Serum IL-6 in Neuropsychiatric Systemic lupus Erythematosus. ACR Open Rheumatol 2021; 3:42-49. [PMID: 33393227 PMCID: PMC7811696 DOI: 10.1002/acr2.11217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The present study was designed in order to elucidate the roles of serum interleukin 6 (IL‐6) in the pathogenesis in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). Methods Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained from 101 patients with SLE when they presented active neuropsychiatric manifestations (69 patients with diffuse psychiatric/neuropsychological syndromes [diffuse NPSLE] and 32 patients with neurologic syndromes or peripheral nervous system involvement [focal NPSLE]) and from 22 control patients without SLE with noninflammatory neurological diseases. The levels of albumin and IL‐6 in CSF and sera were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results Serum IL‐6 and CSF IL‐6 were elevated in NPSLE compared with non‐SLE controls. Among NPSLE, serum IL‐6 and CSF IL‐6 were significantly elevated in acute confusional state (ACS) compared with non‐ACS diffuse NPSLE (anxiety disorder, cognitive dysfunction, mood disorder, and psychosis) or focal NPSLE. Q albumin (CSF/serum albumin quotient) was also significantly higher in ACS than in the other two groups of NPSLE. Of note, serum IL‐6 (r = 0.2801, p = 0.0207), but not CSF IL‐6 (r = 0.1602, p = 0.1918), was significantly correlated with Q albumin in patients with diffuse NPSLE, including ACS and non‐ACS. Conclusion These results indicate that serum IL‐6 as well as CSF IL‐6 is involved in the pathogenesis of NPSLE. Moreover, it is suggested that serum IL‐6 might play a most important role in blood‐brain barrier breakdown in NPSLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsei Hirohata
- Nobuhara Hospital, Tatsuno, Hyogo, Japan, and, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, and Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan
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Abe G, Kikuchi H, Arinuma Y, Hirohata S. Brain MRI in patients with acute confusional state of diffuse psychiatric/neuropsychological syndromes in systemic lupus erythematosus. Mod Rheumatol 2016; 27:278-283. [PMID: 27319397 DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2016.1193966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to explore the characteristics of brain MRI abnormalities in acute confusional state (ACS) in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). METHODS Thirty-six patients with ACS admitted to our institutions from 1992 to 2015 were exhaustively enrolled. Their medical charts and brain MRI scans were reviewed. RESULTS Eighteen of 36 ACS patients had MRI abnormalities, mostly high-intensity lesions of various sizes in the cerebral white matter. MRI abnormalities improved after treatment in 12 of 14 patients in follow-up studies. MRI abnormalities were not correlated with ages at the onset of ACS, disease durations of SLE, the presence of anti-DNA, anti-phospholipid or anti-ribosomal P antibodies, or IL-6 levels in sera or cerebrospinal fluid. Notably, MRI abnormalities were significantly associated with the presence of serum anti-Sm antibodies (p = 0.0067). Finally, eight of the 18 patients with MRI abnormalities, but none of the other 18 patients without MRI abnormalities, died from active SLE. Thus, MRI abnormalities significantly increased the mortality in ACS (p = 0.0013, HR =10.36 [95% CI: 2.487-43.19]). CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that patients with ACS with MRI abnormalities have more severe diseases, resulting in poorer prognoses. The data also indicate that anti-Sm is involved in the development of MRI abnormalities in ACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gakuro Abe
- a Department of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases , Kitasato University School of Medicine , Sagamihara , Kanagawa , Japan , and
| | - Hirotoshi Kikuchi
- b Department of Internal Medicine , Teikyo University School of Medicine , Itabashi-Ku , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Arinuma
- a Department of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases , Kitasato University School of Medicine , Sagamihara , Kanagawa , Japan , and
| | - Shunsei Hirohata
- a Department of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases , Kitasato University School of Medicine , Sagamihara , Kanagawa , Japan , and
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Sato S, Nakajima J, Shimura M, Kawashima H, Yoshio T, Hara Y. Reversible basal ganglia lesions in neuropsychiatric lupus: a report of three pediatric cases. Int J Rheum Dis 2014; 17:274-9. [PMID: 24410981 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.12235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM Central nervous system involvement represents a serious and common complication of systemiclupus erythematosus (SLE). We describe the characteristics of patients with neuropsychiatric (NP) SLE complicated with reversible basal ganglia lesions. METHODS We describe the cases of three NPSLE patients. RESULTS They presented with NP manifestations such as headache, cognitive dysfunction, tremors, seizures, and mood disorder. The levels of autoantibodies to NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) receptor antibodies and antiribosomal-P antibodies were elevated, indicating the presence of an acute phase. Marked elevation of interleukin-6 in cerebrospinal fluid was noted when these patients showed NP symptoms. Moreover, the patients presented with high-intensity lesions in the basal ganglia on T2-weighted images, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images, diffusion-weighted images (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Following immunosuppressive treatment, almost complete improvement of the lesions was noted. CONCLUSION The reported cases indicate that reversible vasculopathies represent vasogenic edema localized in basal ganglia lesions and that activation of the autoimmune system and inflammation could lead to NP manifestations in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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Liu B, Zhang X, Zhang FC, Yao Y, Zhou RZ, Xin MM, Wang LQ. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome could be an underestimated variant of "reversible neurological deficits" in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. BMC Neurol 2012; 12:152. [PMID: 23217201 PMCID: PMC3545963 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-12-152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2012] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been increasingly identified in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) owing to the advance in neuroimaging techniques. Prompt diagnosis is pivotal to improve its outcome. To analyze the clinical and radiographic profile of PRES in patients with SLE and search for the appropriate treatment strategy PRES in SLE. Methods SLE patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for PRES from August 2008 to January 2011 were evaluated at baseline, and followed to determine clinical outcomes. Data were analysis on clinical characteristics, laboratory abnormalities, treatment details, and outcomes. Results Ten episodes of PRES in patients with SLE were identified. All patients were female, mean age of onset was 22.93 ± 2.48 years, and SLEDAI at the onset of PRES were 25.8 ± 5.7. All cases had acute onset of headache, altered mental status, stupor, vomiting, cortical blindness and seizures. Neurological symptoms were the initial manifestation of SLE in three cases. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated posterior white matter edema involving the parietal, temporal and occipital lobes, which were more conspicuous on T2 weighted spin echo and diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) than on computed tomography (CT) scan. Complete clinical and radiographic recovery was observed in 8 patients after prompt treatment with corticosteroids. Conclusions PRES might be due to lupus per se besides other traditional causative factors such as hypertension. PRES might be an underestimated variant of “reversible neurological deficits” in SLE. Prompt recognition and timely management is important to prevent permanent neurological deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, 1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China
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Aszalós Z. [Neurological and psychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome]. Orv Hetil 2011; 152:597-605. [PMID: 21436024 DOI: 10.1556/oh.2011.29087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurological or psychiatric symptoms are present in 60% of the cases with systemic lupus erythematosus. Direct lesions of nervous system are associated with the presence of antibodies, vasculitis, thrombosis and impairments mediated by cytokines. Damages caused by injuries of other organs or those due to therapy are known as indirect causes. In the complex pathogenesis the primary cause is neuronal dysfunction mediated by autoantibodies, vasculopathia and coagulopathia. Until now, more than 20 antibodies have been identified in association with damages of the nervous system. These antibodies may impair neurons or astrocytes and may promote thrombotic processes in vessels of the brain. Activation of endothelial cells and disturbance of blood-brain barrier are also pathogenic factors. In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus the most frequent psychiatric manifestations are organic psychosyndrome, particularly deterioration of cognitive functions, and depression, while the most common neurological syndromes are epilepsy and ischemic stroke. In the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid syndrome β2-glycoprotein I plays the most important role; binding to its antibody the complex may interact with cells and modify haemostatic actions. The most frequent neurological manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome are headache and ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Aszalós
- Semmelweis Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar II. Belgyógyászati Klinika Budapest Szentkirályi u. 46. 1088.
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Chattopadhyay P, Dhua D, Philips CA. Reversible diffuse neurological deficits in systemic lupus erythematosus: Report of a case. Lupus 2011; 20:1079-85. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203310396268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We report a case of lupus presenting with focal as well as diffuse neurological deficits with intracranial and subarachnoid haemorrhages and diffuse hyperintense lesions in T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images of brain magnetic resonance imaging proved by further investigation as demyelination, which completely recovered with intravenous methylprednisolone therapy. During the patient’s hospital stay there was one episode of transient hypertensive episode lasting a few hours, promptly reverting to normal with low-dose ramipril therapy. Complete neurological and radiological recovery of such diffuse leucoencephalopathy-like central nervous system lesions has been rarely reported before.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chattopadhyay
- Department of Medicine, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata, India
| | - D Dhua
- Department of Medicine, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata, India
| | - CA Philips
- Department of Medicine, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata, India
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Venugopal A, Chaerkady R, Pandey A. Application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics for biomarker discovery in neurological disorders. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2010; 12:3-11. [PMID: 20151002 PMCID: PMC2811975 DOI: 10.4103/0972-2327.48845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2008] [Revised: 10/10/2008] [Accepted: 11/10/2008] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics has emerged as a powerful approach that has the potential to accelerate biomarker discovery, both for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. Proteomics has traditionally been synonymous with 2D gels but is increasingly shifting to the use of gel-free systems and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Quantitative proteomic approaches have already been applied to investigate various neurological disorders, especially in the context of identifying biomarkers from cerebrospinal fluid and serum. This review highlights the scope of different applications of quantitative proteomics in understanding neurological disorders with special emphasis on biomarker discovery.
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Hirohata S, Kanai Y, Mitsuo A, Tokano Y, Hashimoto H. Accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid IL-6 testing for diagnosis of lupus psychosis. A multicenter retrospective study. Clin Rheumatol 2009; 28:1319-23. [PMID: 19593599 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-009-1226-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2009] [Revised: 06/21/2009] [Accepted: 06/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric manifestations are relatively common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Since there are factors causing psychiatric manifestations other than SLE, the diagnosis of lupus psychosis (LP) is often difficult. Previous studies disclosed that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-6 was elevated in SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestation. The current studies were therefore designed to examine the efficacy of CSF IL-6 in diagnosis of LP. Multicenter retrospective study was performed with 45 SLE patients who showed psychiatric manifestations between 1993 and 2000. The diagnosis of LP and psychosis due to causes other than SLE (non-LP) was confirmed by retrospective review of the clinical records. Thirty-two of the 45 patients were reconfirmed as LP in the retrospective study. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the sensitivity and specificity of CSF IL-6 for diagnosis of LP were 87.5% and 92.3%, respectively, at the cut-off value of 4.3 pg/ml. These results indicate that CSF IL-6 might be an effective measure in diagnosing LP, although exclusion of infectious meningoencephalitis and cerebrovascular accident is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsei Hirohata
- Department of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 228-8555, Japan.
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