Objective: To analyze the different risk factors for reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods: The clinical and imaging characteristics of 2 cases were described in details. The literature reports for 33 cases of SLE and RPLS were reviewed systematically. The etiologies of SLE and RPLS were analyzed for all 35 cases.
Results: Thirty-five cases of SLE patients were complicated with RPLS, 32 cases suffered hypertension, 3 cases had no hypertension, 1 case was explicitly related with rituximab and 1 case was related with cyclosporine therapy.
Conclusion: SLE complicated by RPLS has different causes, such as hypertension, SLE involving central nervous system and drug neurotoxicity.