A case of neuromyelitis optica (Devic's syndrome) in systemic lupus erythematosus

An interesting case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is presented in which the clinical onset of myelopathy strongly suggested demyelinating disease. Later, intracranial hypertension developed on two occasions. Postmortem examination showed the systemic lesions of SLE. In addition, demyelinating lesions were found in the spinal cord and the optic nerve, the neuropathologic picture of Devic's syndrome, a variant of multiple sclerosis. We question whether some of the cases showing necrotic myelopathy might have an autoimmune pathogenesis.

[1]  S. Levine,et al.  Necrotic myelopathy (myelomalacia) in rats with allergic encephalomyelitis treated with tilorone. , 1976, The American journal of pathology.

[2]  R. Messner,et al.  Recent observations on central nervous system lupus erythematosus. , 1975, Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism.

[3]  I. T. Draper.  MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A REAPPRAISAL , 1973, The Medical journal of Australia.

[4]  D. Silberberg,et al.  Increased intracranial pressure in disseminated lupus erythematosus. , 1973, Archives of neurology.

[5]  P. Cancilla,et al.  Progressive spinal cord signs in a patient with disseminated lupus erythematosus. , 1970, Bulletin of the Los Angeles neurological societies.

[6]  M. Sanders,et al.  Papilledema and asymptomatic intracranial hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus. A fluorescein angiographic study of resolving papilledema. , 1968, Archives of ophthalmology.

[7]  E. Richardson,et al.  The neurological manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. , 1968, Medicine.

[8]  A. Rowan,et al.  Myelopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus. , 1968, Archives of neurology.

[9]  D. W. Stubbs,et al.  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Multiple Sclerosis in Identical Twins , 1967 .

[10]  S. Appel,et al.  TISSUE CULTURE STUDIES OF DEMYELINATION * , 1965, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[11]  L. Scheinberg.  Polyneuritis in systemic lupus erythematosus; review of the literature and report of a case. , 1956, The New England journal of medicine.

[12]  H. Hoffman.  Acute necrotic myelopathy. , 1955, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[13]  W. Cendrowski,et al.  Clinical variant of lupus erythematosus resembling multiple sclerosis. , 1974, European neurology.

[14]  D. Doniach,et al.  A collagen disorder of the nervous system presenting as multiple sclerosis. , 1972, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[15]  W. J. Morginson.  [Lupus erythematosus]. , 1960, Revista medica hondurena.

[16]  M. Yahr,et al.  Childhood lupus erythematosus. A clinical and pathological study of the neurological manifestations. , 1960, Transactions of the American Neurological Association.

[17]  M. Weil.  Disseminated lupus erythematosus with massive hemorrhagic manifestations and paraplegia. , 1955, The Journal-lancet.