Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy in a patient with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

A 9-year-old boy with nephrotic syndrome was transferred to our hospital because of acute renal failure and disturbance of consciousness after high-dose methylprednisolone therapy. He developed severe headache, visual disturbance, and generalized seizures. Brain computed tomography (CT) scan revealed multiple, bilateral, low-density areas in the parieto-occipital lobes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed a high signal intensity area on T2-weighted images and a low signal intensity area on T1-weighted images in the same lesion. Follow-up brain CT scan and MRI, 2 weeks after the first studies, showed complete resolution of the abnormal lesions, which suggested the diagnosis of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). Hypertension and high-dose methylprednisolone administration to the patient in the nephrotic state may be causes of this uncommon syndrome in this case. This is the first report of RPLS in nephrotic syndrome with hypertension not associated with cyclosporine administration.