Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Jul;40(7):1241-5.
doi: 10.1007/s00247-009-1540-y. Epub 2010 Jan 30.

MR imaging findings suggestive of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus

Affiliations

MR imaging findings suggestive of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus

Eyal Muscal et al. Pediatr Radiol. 2010 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Endothelial damage, hypertension and cytotoxic medications may serve as risk factors for the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in systemic lupus erythematosus. There have been few case reports of these findings in pediatric lupus patients.

Objective: We describe clinical and neuroimaging findings in children and adolescents with lupus and a PRES diagnosis.

Materials and methods: We identified all clinically acquired brain MRIs of lupus patients at a tertiary care pediatric hospital (2002-2008). We reviewed clinical features, conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings of patients with gray- and white-matter changes suggestive of vasogenic edema and PRES.

Results: Six pediatric lupus patients presenting with seizures and altered mental status had MRI findings suggestive of PRES. In five children clinical and imaging changes were seen in conjunction with hypertension and active renal disease. MRI abnormalities were diffuse and involved frontal regions in five children. DWI changes reflected increased apparent diffusivity coefficient (unrestricted diffusion in all patients). Clinical and imaging changes significantly improved with antihypertensive and fluid management.

Conclusion: MRI changes suggestive of vasogenic edema and PRES may be seen in children with active lupus and hypertension. The differential diagnosis of seizures and altered mental status should include PRES in children, as it does in adults.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2009 Mar;52(3):373-5 - PubMed
    1. Arthritis Rheum. 1999 Apr;42(4):599-608 - PubMed
    1. Thromb Haemost. 1995 Oct;74(4):1185-90 - PubMed
    1. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007 Feb;48(2):152-9 - PubMed
    1. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008 Jun;29(6):1043-9 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources