scholarly journals Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Complicated by Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO – Devic's Disease): Clinic-Pathological Report and Review of the Literature

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. CCRep.S15177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Adawi ◽  
Bishara Bisharat ◽  
Abdalla Bowirrat

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is usually a relapsing demyelinating disease of the central nervous system associated with optic neuritis, transverse myelitis involving three or more contiguous spinal cord segments, and seropositivity for NMO-IgG antibody. NMO is often mistaken for multiple sclerosis and there are relatively sporadic publications about NMO and overlapping systemic or organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We described a unique case of a 25-year-old Arab young woman who was diagnosed with SLE, depending on clinical, laboratory investigations and after she had fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for SLE and had presented the following findings: constitutional findings (fatigue, fever, and arthralgia); dermatologic finding (photosensitivity and butterfly rash); chronic renal failure (proteinuria up to 400 mg in 24 hours); hematologic and antinuclear antibodies (positivity for antinuclear factor (ANF), anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, direct Coombs, ANA and anti-DNA, low C4 and C3, aCL by IgG and IgM). Recently, she presented with several episodes of transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings especially seropositivity for NMO-IgG were compatible with NMO. Accurate diagnosis is critical to facilitate initiation of immunosuppressive therapy for attack prevention. This case illustrates that NMO may be associated with SLE.

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Vinogradova ◽  
A. P. Panova ◽  
N. M. Bulanov ◽  
P. I. Novikov ◽  
S. V. Moiseev

Neuromyelitis optica ((NMO), Devic's syndrome) is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease characterized by transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. Determination of the level of antibodies to aquaporin 4 (NMO-IgG) is presently one of the key methods for the diagnosis and assessment of the activity of ONM, which allows this disease to be differentiated from multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating CNS lesions. ONM can occur not only as an independent disease, but also as a syndrome in different systemic diseases, such as: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides, Sjögren's disease, etc. (up to 50–70%). In such situations, the clinician is always confronted with a question as whether the patient can have two rare autoimmune diseases or develop ONM as a systemic manifestation of rheumatic disease.The paper describes a clinical case of a young female patient with SLE concurrent with a CNS lesion, the manifestations of which corresponded to ONM. The patient had focal changes in the substance of the brain and spinal cord, as evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging, as well as high NMO-IgG titers. The development of ONM worsens SLE prognosis and requires active immunosuppressive therapy. The patient received three plasmapheresis sessions, ultrahigh-dose glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide therapy, followed by replacement with azathioprine, causing a stable clinical and laboratory disease remission to be achieved.


Lupus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (14) ◽  
pp. 1656-1662
Author(s):  
J N Williams ◽  
C B Speyer ◽  
D J Kreps ◽  
D J Kimbrough ◽  
K Costenbader ◽  
...  

Objective Non-infectious myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be due to SLE myelitis, comorbid multiple sclerosis (MS), or neuromyelitis optica (NMO). We compared characteristics of these three conditions in SLE patients at a large academic institution. Methods We searched for neurologic diagnoses of SLE myelitis, NMO myelitis, and MS myelitis among 2297 patients with at least four 1997 American College of Rheumatology revised criteria for SLE between 2000 and 2015. Each subject was reviewed by a neurologist to confirm the underlying neurologic diagnosis. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiographic data were extracted and compared using Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results Fifteen of the 2297 subjects with SLE (0.7%) met criteria for a spinal cord syndrome: seven had SLE myelitis, three had AQP4 seropositive NMO, and five had MS. The median SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 score at time of neurologic syndrome presentation was higher in SLE myelitis subjects (8, interquartile range (IQR) 7–16) compared with subjects with NMO (6, IQR 0–14) or MS (2, IQR 0–4), p = 0.02. Subjects with SLE myelitis were also more likely to have elevated anti-dsDNA antibodies at presentation (86%) compared with subjects with NMO (33%) or MS (0%), p = 0.03. Conclusion Myelitis occurs rarely among patients with SLE. Compared with subjects with SLE + NMO and subjects with SLE + MS, subjects with SLE myelitis had higher SLE disease activity at presentation.


Lupus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (14) ◽  
pp. 1722-1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
M M Thabah ◽  
Sekar D ◽  
R Pranov ◽  
M M V Moulitej ◽  
A Ramesh ◽  
...  

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is an inflammatory syndrome that is associated with many autoimmune conditions. We present the case of a patient who had longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and antibodies to aquaporin 4 IgG (AQP4-IgG). Based on presence of lymphopenia, further workup revealed strong ANA positivity, anti-Sm antibodies, and low serum complements suggesting presence of systemic lupus erythematosus. The patient promptly responded to intravenous pulse methylprednisolone and five sessions of plasma exchange. At 1 year, she is on maintenance treatment with low dose prednisolone, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine, she has had no relapse and no other clinical features of lupus. This case is an illustration that neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder can be the first manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lahar R Mehta ◽  
Melissa K Samuelsson ◽  
Anatole K Kleiner ◽  
Andrew D Goodman ◽  
Jennifer H Anolik ◽  
...  

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by severe episodes of optic nerve and spinal cord inflammation. NMO-IgG (anti-aquaporin-4) has been recently described as a sensitive and specific marker for NMO. As there have been prior published reports of an association between NMO and systemic autoimmune diseases, the prognostic value of the antibody test in these cases is uncertain. We describe a 47-year old woman with recurrent transverse myelitis and a long-standing history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS). While she did not have a history of optic neuritis, serological testing for the NMO-IgG was positive when she was admitted for her second episode of transverse myelitis. Testing for the NMO-IgG in cases of isolated or recurrent transverse myelitis attributed to current SLE and APLS may help clarify the diagnosis of a distinct disease process likely to cause recurrent and severe disability, warranting more aggressive immunotherapy. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 425—427. http://msj.sagepub.com


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 298-299
Author(s):  
Iñaki Hernando Rubio ◽  
Joaquín Belzunegui Otano ◽  
Olga Máiz Alonso ◽  
Belén Álvarez Rodríguez

Lupus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1243-1249
Author(s):  
E Moraitis ◽  
Y Stathopoulos ◽  
Y Hong ◽  
M Al-Obaidi ◽  
K Mankad ◽  
...  

Objective The aim of this study was to: (a) screen a large group of unselected patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus for anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab); (b) identify clinical and laboratory predictors of the presence of AQP4-Ab positivity in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods Sera from 90 patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus were tested for the presence of AQP4-Ab using a cell-based assay. Demographics, clinical and immunological features, treatment received were summarized. Fisher’s exact test was used to identify clinical predictors of positivity for AQP4-Ab. Results Five of 90 (5.5%) patients tested positive for AQP4-Ab, all of which had neurological involvement, mainly transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. AQP4-Ab-positive patients were more likely to have neurological symptoms ( P = 0.002), less likely to experience dermatological manifestations ( P = 0.045), and less likely to have detectable anti-dsDNA antibodies ( P = 0.022). These patients were also more likely to have received anti-epileptic ( P = 0.023) and anti-coagulant ( P = 0.007) drugs. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that some patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus develop antibodies against aquaporin-4 and may be at risk of developing a neurological clinical phenotype. We suggest that all juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients should be systematically screened for the presence of AQP4-Ab and this may help identify a high risk for neurological involvement in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-107
Author(s):  
Ksenija Bozic ◽  
Nenad Komatina ◽  
Milan Petronijevic ◽  
Bojana Knezevic ◽  
Dejan Kostic ◽  
...  

Introduction. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare demyelinating immune-mediated central nervous system disease. It is extremely rare to occur in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and it represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Case report. A 38-year-old Caucasian woman with medical history of SLE and new onset of flaccid paraparesis, fecal and urinary incontinence, persistent nausea and vomiting was admitted to our hospital. Based on the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging findings and positive aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibodies, a NMOSD with coexisting SLE were diagnosed. Pulse-doses of cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids were efficient in patient treatment. Conclusion. In a patient with SLE and symptoms of longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis and/or optic neuritis and area postrema syndrome, assessment of AQP4 antibodies is neccessary for diagnosing NMOSD. Accurate diagnosis, and timely and long-term administration of immunosuppressive therapy are crucial for favorable outcome of these two coexisting diseases.


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