The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2007 , Vol 49 , Num 1
Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with pseudotumor cerebri: a rare association
1Departments of Pediatrics, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
2Departments of Ophthalmology, Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey
3Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
Kuyucu S, Argın A, Kuyucu N, Özen S. Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with pseudotumor cerebri: a rare association. Turk J Pediatr 2007; 49: 98-101.

We describe a 13-year-old systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patient who presented with severe headache. The diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) was confirmed by an increased intracranial pressure and normal neuroimaging studies of the brain, including magnetic resonance (MR) venography. She later developed a Coombs positive anemia, lymphopenia, positive tests for antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-dsDNA and a migratory polyarthritis confirming the diagnosis of SLE. IgM type anticardiolipin antibodies were positive in low titer. Since she did not have a demonstrable thromboembolic phenomenon in neuroimaging studies, a diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome could not be made and anticoagulant treatment was not given. Treatment with pulse IV methylprednisolone followed by oral treatment along with azathioprine produced a rapid and dramatic resolution of the clinical symptoms. PTC may also be a neurological manifestation of childhood SLE and should be considered in the differential diagnosis. We suggest that pulse steroids and azathioprine is an effective treatment for this feature. Keywords : pseudotumor cerebri, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, corticosteroids, azathioprine, anticardiolipin antibodies

Copyright © 2016 turkishjournalpediatrics.org