HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in a patient with Takayasu arteritis.

Abstract
Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) has been identified in several connective tissue diseases. However, there are no reports of RPLS associated with Takayasu arteritis (TA). We report the first case of TA associated with RPLS. A 23-year-old woman presented with sudden headache and vomiting, followed by generalized tonic-clonic seizures and mental changes two weeks after administration of oral prednisolone. MRI showed hyperintense signals on T2 and FLAIR images in the bilateral temporal-parietal-occipital lobes, left frontal lobe, and left cerebellar hemisphere. Three weeks after starting control of convulsions and blood pressure with plasmapheresis, high-dose methylprednisolone, and cyclophosphamide, the clinical manifestations and abnormal signals on MRI completely resolved. These reversible clinical and radiological changes are consistent with vasogenic edema in the central nervous system, indicating RPLS. Although high-dose methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide are thought to cause RPLS, we think that it is justified to use these agents, at least in difficult cases, for making a clear-cut differentiation from CNS vasculitis, as long as blood pressure and fluid volume are well controlled. Moreover, we suggest that RPLS should be included in differential diagnosis of acute neurological changes in connective tissue diseases, including TA.
AuthorsMasaaki Fujita, Kenichi Komatsu, Saori Hatachi, Masato Yagita
JournalModern rheumatology (Mod Rheumatol) Vol. 18 Issue 6 Pg. 623-9 ( 2008) ISSN: 1439-7595 [Print] England
PMID18587526 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Methylprednisolone
Topics
  • Adult
  • Brain (pathology)
  • Cyclophosphamide (therapeutic use)
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Methylprednisolone (therapeutic use)
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (complications, pathology, therapy)
  • Takayasu Arteritis (complications, pathology, therapy)
  • Treatment Outcome

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: