Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in a patient with Takayasu arteritis

Relapsing Polychondritis with a Cobble-stone Appearance of the Tracheal Mucosa, Preceded by Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

A 25-year-old woman had convulsions and disturbance of consciousness. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed punctate areas in the occipital lobes with increased signals on T2-weighted imaging. The MRI abnormalities responded well to steroid pulse therapy, so we made a diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Three months later, she developed a fever and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed marked thickness of the tracheal and bronchial wall, and bronchoscopy showed a cobble-stone appearance of the tracheal mucosa, indicative of relapsing polychondritis (RPC). We consider that PRES had developed due to autoimmune vasculitis in the brain with RPC.

Corticosteroid therapy and severity of vasogenic edema in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

BACKGROUND

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a variable cerebrovascular syndrome associated with hypertension and autoregulatory failure. Steroids have been reported to both precipitate and treat PRES. We sought to determine the prevalence of steroid therapy at the time of PRES and to assess the relationship between steroid therapy and extent of vasogenic edema.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of radiology reports between 2008 and 2014 from two academic medical centers to identify cases of PRES. Clinical and radiographic data were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of corticosteroid therapy at the time of PRES onset and the latency from steroid initiation to PRES onset. The association between steroid therapy and extent of vasogenic edema was assessed in multiple regression models.

RESULTS

We identified 99 cases of PRES in 96 patients. The median age was 55years (IQR 30-65) and 74% were women. Steroid therapy at time of PRES onset was identified in 44 of 99 cases. Excluding patients on chronic therapy, the median duration of steroid exposure before PRES onset was 6 (IQR, 3-10) days. Steroid therapy was not associated with extent of vasogenic edema in unadjusted or linear and logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and maximum systolic blood pressure on day of onset.

CONCLUSION

Corticosteroid therapy, often of brief duration, frequently preceded the onset of PRES and was not associated with severity of vasogenic edema.

[A case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with Takayasu's arteritis]

A 75-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of repetitive loss of consciousness, dizziness, and ear fullness. Fluid attenuation inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging showed high-intensity areas in the right occipital lobe, both frontal lobes, and parietal lobes, and the patient was therefore admitted to our department for further examination. Neurologic findings included a positive Barré sign (right upper extremity), impaired tandem gait, and positive left-sided Babinski reflex. The patient was diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis owing to a difference in blood pressure between the left and right upper extremity, weakened pulse in the left upper extremity, as well as thickened arterial wall, and delayed enhancement on a contrast-enhanced computed tomography image. The head magnetic resonance imaging findings disappeared within 4 months and the patient was diagnosed with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with elderly female Takayasu's arteritis is rare. ; the present case therefore offers valuable information.