ADEM as an Initial Presentation of SLE: A Case Report

Abstract

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the white matter. The pathophysiology is thought to be immune-mediated as in most cases the condition follows an infection or triggering incident. More recent literature has demonstrated that there may be a link between autoimmune conditions and ADEM. Here we present a case of ADEM in a middle-aged woman with systemic lupus erythematosus that recovered well after treatment with corticosteroids and rituximab.

Keywords

• autoimmune diseases
• demyelinating
• brain
• anti-dsDNA antibodies
• rituximab
• IVIG