A Rare Neurological Complication - Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Class IV Lupus Nephritis

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus, characterized by altered mental status, headache, convulsions, visual field impairment and posterior and reversible alterations on imaging scans(1,2). The clinical picture develops over a few hours, presenting with rapidly progressive neurological symptoms(3). It was first described in 1996. It is more frequent in patients with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease, thus in lupus patients with kidney disorders. It is associated with hypertension, other autoimmune diseases beside lupus, immunosuppressive therapies, especially antibody-based immunosuppressive therapy, and organ transplantation. It is clinically reversible within one week and imaging changes resolve within 2-4 weeks. It is treatable and has a good prognosis. We present the case of a young woman of 27 years, diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed convulsive seizures, headache, visual impairment, being under immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine. The kidney biopsy revealed class IV lupus nephritis and partial remission of the nephrotic syndrome. The other manifestations of SLE in this patient were cutaneous, immunological, articular and haematological. The patient had a good short, medium and long-term prognosis at 30 days and also at 6 months.