Successful treatment with rituximab in a patient with lupus cerebritis and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a case report

Abstract

Background Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) has a diverse and broad spectrum of severity and prognosis, with some devastating manifestations. However, its diagnosis and treatment remain unclear and controversial. Case Report A 19-year-old woman with SLE presented with fever, headache, quadriparesis, and tremor. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed sulcal enhancement in the cortical sulcus, and intravenous methylprednisolone (500 mg/day) and immunoglobulin (2 g/kg for 5 days) were started under the suspicion of aseptic lupus meningitis. However, the patient’s neurologic symptoms worsened; brain MRI showed a newly developed brain parenchymal lesion, suggesting lupus cerebritis and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Two cycles of rituximab (850 mg/day, 1-week interval) were administered for the treatment of refractory NPSLE. Her neurologic symptoms gradually improved after the second cycle, and she was discharged with minimal neurologic symptoms. Conclusion Rituximab may be a therapeutic option for refractory lupus cerebritis. Further research is needed to accurately determine its efficacy.

Keywords

• neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus
• posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
• rituximab