Limbic encephalitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Lupus Vol. 18; no. 14; pp. 1316 - 1319
• Main Authors: Kano, O., Arasaki, K., Ikeda, K., Aoyagi, J., Shiraishi, H., Motomura, M., Iwasaki, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2009; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Autoantibodies - blood; Female; Humans; Limbic Encephalitis - etiology; Limbic Encephalitis - immunology; Limbic Encephalitis - pathology; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - complications; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - immunology; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated - immunology; magnetic resonance imaging; systemic lupus erythematosus; limbic encephalitis; voltage-gated potassium channel antibody
• ISSN: 0961-2033; 1477-0962
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203309106829

A 34-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with general fatigue, seizures and memory loss. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a high signal area in the mesial temporal lobe bilaterally. Computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen and ultrasound of pelvis detected no malignancy and tumour marker, antibodies to antineuronal antibodies (anti-Hu, anti-Ta and anti-Ma) and antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels were all negative. The present case is limbic encephalitis (LE) associated with SLE and the pathogenesis may include autoimmunity shared. Our experience indicates that the immunologic spectrum of LE will expand to include additional immune mechanisms. Lupus (2009) 18, 1316—1319.